Faculty Matter: Retention is Everybody’s Business

Educational Policy Institute

May 2008

SOU Reflects National Trends in Higher Education

Changing Demographics Student Perceptions of Higher Education Funding Stream

The Problem

Recruitment and retention are a problem at Southern Oregon University.

We have the lowest retention rate within in the OUS system.

Oregon ranks 48th in funding higher education (18% from the state, 82% from tuition dollars).

Possible Solutions

Recruit higher numbers of students to SOU Retain higher percentage of students already

at SOU Secure higher percentage of state funding

Who’s Job is It?

The Entire Campus Community:– Students– Classified– Faculty– Administration– Alumni

External Partners– The State– The Region– Local Business

Who’s Job is This?

The Entire Campus Community:– Students– Classified– Faculty– Administration– Alumni

External Partners– The State– The Region– Local Business

It’s Not My Job

Integrative Framework

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Relevance

Foundational

Needs

Attainment of Goal

Institution

Faculty

Point of First Contact

• Begins with the 1st contact and continues until after the attainment of the goal.

• Refers to every interaction the student has – this must be positive and intentional on all fronts

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Relevance

Foundational

Needs

Attainment of Goal

Institution

Faculty

Point of First Contact

• Foundational needs prevent students from entering and remaining in our programs.

• They represent the supportive system that must be in place to meet the basic needs of our students.

Attainment of Goal

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Relevance

Institution

Faculty

Foundational

Needs

Attainment of Goal

Point of First Contact

• Relevance grows in importance during the course of the student’s studies; at the same time, the faculty role increases.

• As the foundational needs are met, this opens space for other needs – students move up Maslow’s hierarch of needs and have more space for growth and relevancy.

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Foundational

NeedsInstitution

Faculty

Relevance

Attainment of Goal

First Point of Contact

What is the Unique Role of Faculty in Relationships?

1. Recruitment (first point of contact thru first day of enrollment)

2. Retention (first day of class through graduation)

3. Post-graduation

Relationships During Recruitment

Work with admissions to get contact information for students who have expressed an interest in your department’s offerings.

Accept local speaking engagements. Department web pages should reflect the quality of our faculty. Create faculty and/or department blogs Develop a WikiSpace related to your academic discipline Have a “FaceBook” Get on “YouTube” Leverage “Flickr” and “Picasa” groups Solicit input on programs from experts in the field Tell your stories – on the web

Relationships as a part of Retention

Use of cohort models Use of learning teams Creating a community of learners (upper and lower division teams) Share the passion of our discipline Allow earlier declarations of a major Faculty-led student groups (clubs, discussion groups) Look to group advising models Include career guidance in advising Regular gatherings of like-majored students with faculty and alumni Send your advisees regular emails to remind them of critical

deadlines

Retention as a part of Relationshipsa unique role for the Dept Chair

Communications from the Department Chair at the beginning of the term …..

On behalf of the Communication faculty and staff I want to say welcome back to all our majors and welcome to all the new folks joining the Comm. family this term. I hope you all had a great Spring Break.

Since it's Wednesday I hope that you have all made it to your classes and that you feel comfortable and excited about this new term. For some of you, it is your first term as a Communication major. For some of you your four, five, six or more years of time with us (smile) will conclude with graduation in June. Regardless, I want to wish you all the best not only this term, but for the rest of your lives.

As some of you know we have made a few office changes so I have attached a list of all Ashland Communication Faculty that include their office numbers, email addresses and phone numbers.

I hope you have a fun, successful and productive Spring Term.

Wishing you Success,

The Chair continued …

To All Majors,

This is your wake-up call, do not hit the snooze button.

We are approaching the end of the third week of the term and I want to encourage all of you to examine where you are as it relates to your classes.

If you are having difficulties in any of your classes, now is the time to go to your professor and ask for assistance or advice. Do not wait until week eight, nine, or the day before the Final. Now is the time.

I wish everyone well on preparations for and on their midterms. I hope you also take advantage of the nice weather between snow storms.

Good Luck with the rest of the term,

Relationships as a part ofPost Graduation

Host a social event at national conferences – given alumni a unique identifier to wear throughout the conference to show pride in their alma mater

Business card bulletin boards Use alumni in your marketing materials Alumni celebrations with current students Years of internet access to course websites years after graduation Mentorship never ending

What is the Unique Role of Faculty in Foundational Needs?

1. Recruitment2. Retention3. Post Graduation

Foundational Needs as a part of Recruitment

Be available for recruitment outside of preview days; consider needs of all potential students

Be able to advise potential students on scholarships specific to your discipline

Be knowledgable about all support services available on campus Understand support services that are available for students Town meetings

Foundational Needsas a part of our teaching

Create a safe learning environment Advance notice of textbooks required for a course (shopping around) Have textbooks, technology and resources available Know support services available and make referrals Our strongest and most senior faculty must teach lower division

courses – especially the “gateway” courses Be a part of student groups, organizations

– Student advocacy Availability for advising

What is the Unique Role of Faculty in Relevance?

1. Recruitment2. Retention3. Post Graduation

Relevance as a part of Recruitment

Clearly communicate how the program relates to the real world Highlight program excellence and academic rigor Offer opportunities for engaging in the discipline Highlight outstanding graduates Town meetings

Relevance as a part of Teaching

CBL, internships, field experience Provide an engaging curriculum that applies the knowledge and skills

of the discipline Authentic assessment Offer lecture series Involve local experts in the discipline in curriculum development Integration with Career Services Andragogy Passion for discipline

Integrative Framework

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Relevance

Foundational

Needs

Attainment of Goal

Institution

Faculty

Point of First Contact

Vicki T. Purslow, Ed.D. Amy T. Belcastro Associate Dean Assistant

Professorpurslowv@sou.edu belcasta@sou.edu(541)552-6519 (541)552-

8245

Southern Oregon University1250 Siskiyou Boulevard

Ashland, OR 97520