Saundra Yancy McGuire, Ph.D., ChairKurt Keppler, Ph.D., Vice-Chair

The LSU Retention Committee:Procedures, Findings and Recommendations

LSU Faculty Senate MeetingDecember 7, 2011

Retention Committee Mission

The mission of the LSU Retention Committee is to identify ways to increase student persistence to graduation. Working collaboratively across campus units, the committee seeks to ensure that institutional policies and practices support student success.

Trend in LSU Retention and Six Year Graduation Rates

19871989

19911993

19951997

19992001

20032005

20072009

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Retention Rate

Six-Year Graduation Rate

The Time for Action is Now!

The 2010 LA GRAD (Granting Resources and Autonomy for Degrees) Act requires the University to "implement policies established by the institutions’ management board to achieve cohort graduation rate and graduation productivity goals that are consistent with institutional peers."

Peer ComparisonsRetention Rate

(2009 Entering Class)

Six Year Graduation Rate(2004 enteringClass)

LSU 84.2%83.8% (2010)

61%

SEC Peers 84.6% 67.4%

InstitutionalPeers

87.5% 70%

2011 Football Opponents

82.8%(83.9% withoutNorthwestern)

62.9%

42 Member Retention Committee Sub-Committees

Addressed Barriers to Persistence as identified by the Division of Student Life and Enrollment

AcademicEngagementInstitutionalPersonalDeans*

*considered the role of the colleges in addressing retention and graduation rates

Retention Committee Submitted 28 Recommendations

in Four Categories

• First Year Programs and Early Engagement in University Life

• Academic and Student Life Advising• Support for Student Learning and

Faculty, Staff, and Administrative Development

• LSU Policies, Practices, and Procedures

Next Steps

• Continue to engage students, faculty, and administrators in the discussion*• Continue implementation of

recommendations• Begin policy discussion with ASH• Faculty Colloquium on January 10, 2011

Retention Repositoryhttp://community.moodle.lsu.edu/course/view.php?id=370

• Agenda and Minutes of Committee Meetings• Data used by Retention Committee• Full Committee Report• This PP presentation• Additional information related to

retention

QUESTIONS?