Initiative to Identify At-Risk Students Launched

While retaining students at college is challenging for administrators, a new pilot program will help college officials identify students who are at risk in the hopes of getting the students the help they need before they drop out, increasing retention rates.

The program revolves around the “Retention Alert System,” a new computer software program from TrueOutcomes, a division of academic publishing giant Thomson Learning and combines information from the admissions process and student surveys to identify students early on that may need additional services.

“There is a great deal of research about why students fail or drop out of college,” said Kathleen Quirk, associate dean for instructional support services and retention and the project leader. “We know, for instance, that students who had a low high school grade point average, low SAT or ACT scores, who go to school part-time, and who come from families with low socioeconomic status are likely to struggle in college. We could add low placement test results and enrollment in non-credit courses as risk factors, as well,” said Quirk. Adding, “In addition to the risk factors that we know about from the admissions application, placement test results, and student schedules, we could add factors that we would only learn about from student surveys: single parent, health issues, lack of a career goal, work hours in excess of 20 hours/week, etc.”

The software collects data from student records in these areas as well as academic and emotional preparedness, classroom attendance, late registration, and performance on college level work. The software then calculates an Attrition Risk Score and assigns it to the student. Based on this score, the Student Outreach Support program of the office of Instructional Support Services and Retention would then contact the student and offer them additional resources such as joining CASP, a study group or a support group.

While an agreement has not yet been signed by the college with TrueOutcomes, Quirk is expecting the program will be operational for the fall 2008 and spring 2009 semesters and will focus on “students enrolled in the Collegiate Academic Support Program and students enrolled in one or more non-credit developmental courses.” Quirk’s office will then analyze the data “to see if the students who were receptive to support services were retained at a greater rate than the at-risk students who wouldn’t use the services.” If so the program would be considered a success and could lead to the purchase of retention software and the program expanded college wide.