VALIDATING Pathways to Student Success and Retention

Abstract

Retention interventions focus on support programs, measures of success, and demographics. This study offers an alternate student-based narrative relative to student college preparation and self-diagnosed functionalities and compatibilities. We examine metrics that portray economic and environmental settings and social frameworks – as well as interactions, behaviors, and responses – that comprise first-year students’ experiences for the spectrum of engagement behaviors. We analyze the return on investment for student retention efforts at a four-year public university by applying a predictive and proactive retention model. We also discuss ensuring accessibility to services, diagnosing student intervention, and considering subsequent engagement behaviors.

Keywords

• retention
• student success
• proactive
• intervention