Student Retention is Focus of Washington State University Summit

PULLMAN, Wash. — Many people who have gone to college are familiar with this legendary story. During the first week of classes, students are told to look at the person to their left. Then look at the person to their right. As the saying goes, by the time they are supposed to graduate, at least one of those two persons will have already flunked out.

Although most professors these days opt for more encouraging words, the story still holds some truth for many universities today.

The issue of student retention will be the subject of a retention summit to be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 10 in the Cascade Rooms of Compton Union Building on the Pullman campus of Washington State University.

According to data from WSU’s Office of Institutional Research, WSU ranks 20^th in retention when compared with 25 of its peer institutions. Sixty-percent of WSU students who enrolled in 1998 graduated within six years. Despite ranking in the lower third of its peer institutions, WSU’s graduation rates are better than the average of all Division I schools.

Similarly, WSU graduates 49 percent of its students of color in six years, a figure significantly lower than its peer average, but better than the average for all Division I schools.

Vicki McCracken, associate vice president for enrollment management and associate vice provost at WSU, acknowledges there is room for improvement. “Having this retention summit is forcing us to look at our data very closely and face the facts. It is easy to look at the data on the surface level, but when you really begin analyzing it, you realize there are many factors that contribute to graduation and retention rates,” she said.

Realizing the complexities involved, McCracken is teaming with J. Manuel Acevedo, director of Multicultural Student Services, and bringing other people into the conversation.

Acevedo said, “The only possible way to truly create change that better serves multicultural students is through partnerships. Perhaps the summit will serve as a model for what we hope will continue after it is over.”

To generate dialogue and ideas, invitations were sent to WSU personnel who have specific responsibility, interest and expertise in the areas of enrollment and retention. Many of the participants will come from the academic colleges and urban campuses.

McCracken and Acevedo say the primary goal of this summit is to produce a list of recommended actions that will move WSU up in the retention rankings and help more students graduate.

People interested in attending who did not receive an invitation can be considered on a space available basis by contacting McCracken, (509) 335-4531, or Acevedo, (509) 335-7852.