Student Retention Challenges

Robert Cornell 

Writer 

The student retention rate for Fayetteville State University first-time freshmen was 72.7% for 2012. That means that approximately 7 out of every 10 students that entered Fayetteville State University in 2011 returned for the 2012 school year.

According to The University of North Carolina Retention and Graduation Report from 2012, “System-wide, freshman-to-sophomore retention rates reached a peak with the 2008 cohort at 82.7%.

Since that time, a period characterized by the recession and by increasing satisfactory academic progress standards on a number of our campuses, retention rates have decreased slightly—approximately 0.6 percentage points. Despite the decline in recent years, current retention rates as compared to five years ago are higher.”

The retention centered programs within University College have held steady over the last five years. Retention of freshman from their first year to their second has been between 69.1% and 75.6%. University College is consistently reevaluating how to increase student retention through newly revamped and targeted programs.

Fayetteville State University retention rates remain lower than the UNC system-wide averages. However, if you look at the data, it seems that other UNC system schools seen as our competitors, such as North Carolina Central University and Elizabeth State University, are performing at approximately the same rate, according to the 2012 report.

Fayetteville State University faces challenges not seen on other campuses that specifically affect retention rates. Despite challenges, FSU offers unique educational opportunities for students and continues to work closely with incoming students to address academic short-falls. In an effort to ensure that all students return to campus, FSU offers courses and services through University College (UC) that help freshmen adjust to college life and the increased workload involved. Many offices within UC and others across the university makeup a band of services that undergird students.

Dr. Beale, Associate Dean of University College, said, “We’ll do anything to help students achieve at higher heights. Our team partners with faculty, administrators, and various stakeholders on campus day to day.” Beale mentioned, “We’re lifting as we climb. Retention is everyone’s business, everyone has a role. We’re committed to providing students with the services they deserve.”

FSU offers courses like UNIV-101 and UNIV-102 to help freshmen develop collegial skills, declare a major, and explore their passion or areas of interest. The courses teach students the fundamentals of college transition. Various learning outcomes taught are note taking, time management, public speaking, networking, leadership, and career readiness, to name a few. Perhaps one of the most essential learning outcomes is student, peer, and faculty interaction.

FSU also offers services such as the Academic Probation Recovery Program that uses a Coaching Model, implemented for students below a 2.0 GPA. Through the vision of Dr. Brooks, Dean, this newly created program was designed to be self-reflective and assists students in facilitating conversations on what didn’t work and what can work. The goal of the program is to prevent students from being suspended at the conclusion of spring 2014.

One of the strategies to increase student retention is University College week, which takes place each fall. It is a week full of activities that expose students to campus resources such as Career Services, A.U.T.O.S, Veteran’s Services, Department of Health, Civic Engagement, and the Center for Personal Development. It offers various seminars that help students develop relationships with other students. At the end of the University College week, one male and one female student are crowned Mr. and Miss. University College.

For the incoming 2014 cohort, University College will be working on creating more learning communities and increasing the number of linked courses within each community. Furthermore, the college hopes to expand partnerships across the university to better prepare FSU students for major selection, internship opportunities, and career readiness. The clear approach to retention is that it remains a top priority for the institution and everyone is collaborating to drive this effort.