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Overview
Many institutions are aware of the importance of retention programming but struggle with how to develop a comprehensive plan that ties student data to enrollment goals, academic mission, and support services. Recent pressures to increase accountability combined with the difficult economic climate have refocused the spotlight on student retention. Without a comprehensive plan for improvement, institutions may not reap the improved outcomes they seek.
Join us to learn how to develop a comprehensive, data-driven approach to retention programming that involves all campus stakeholders.
Who Should Attend
This program is designed for enrollment managers, academic advisors, student affairs professionals, retention specialists, and institutional researchers who are seeking guidance on developing an institutional plan. Institutional teams are strongly encouraged to attend. Discounts will be applied to teams of 4 or more.
Pre-Conference Materials
In addition to directed reading, attendees will be asked to bring some institutional data with them so they can fully participate in the working sessions.
Testimonials
"This conference really delivered what was promised. We were given all the information and tools needed to develop retention strategies, goals, and a program from the ground up."
"If you are "new" to retention and enrollment management, this conference is the right one to attend."
"The leaders of this event were experts in their area of student retention, providers of practical, effective strategies, willing to highlight the challenges and complexities of planning and were very flexible in meeting our retention team's needs (12 members)."
"I found the process for developing a retention plan to be very helpful. It is a well thought through plan that can be followed step-by-step."
Program Agenda
Monday, May 17, 2010
| 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. |
| Breakfast and Registration for Pre-Conference Attendees |
| 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
| Pre-Conference Workshop: Retention and First Generation Students: Considerations and Planning |
Demographic data predicts a large increase in the number of first generation students planning to enroll in college over the next decade. This pre-conference workshop will provide an overview of the predicted trends, explore current retention programs that are successful with first generation populations, and help you understand how to analyze the impact of the new admissions funnel on future retention efforts. |
| 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. |
| Lunch for Pre-Conference Attendees and Registration for Conference Attendees |
| 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. |
| Current Retention Theory and Practice: Where Does Your Institution Fit? |
This opening session will help you explore the current theoretical approaches to retention and uncover how theory guides practice. You will also explore the campus stakeholders involved in comprehensive planning and how different departments may deploy different approaches to retention challenges. |
| 2:45 – 4:15 p.m. |
| Getting Started |
During this session, you will review your institutional mission, enrollment goals, student attrition factors and other related data to begin to determine retention priorities. You will also explore the role of the retention committee and the connections between enrollment, academic advising, student affairs, and institutional research. |
| 4:15 – 6:00 p.m. |
| Self Audit of Data and Programs: What is Already in Place and What Do you Need to Improve? |
This session will help you learn what data you already have, what you need to start collecting, and which offices may have the data. Additionally, you will begin to explore the programs you currently have in place and begin exploring any gaps in current efforts. |
| 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. |
| Networking Reception (included in registration) |
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
| 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. |
| Continental Breakfast (included in registration) |
| 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. |
| Learning From Your Peers: Programs That Work |
Before you reinvent the wheel, it is useful to hear from other colleagues about their experiences with developing and implementing new comprehensive approaches to retention planning. Faculty will share their recent campus initiatives and methods they use to track success. This session will help you "think outside the box" about new programs before you begin planning your own strategic plans during the afternoon. |
| 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
| Building Campus Buy In |
Retention efforts are often hampered by campus culture, politics, and confusion about "where the buck stops." During this session you will learn how to create an effective team of stakeholders to help champion your comprehensive retention effort. |
| 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. |
| Lunch (included in registration) |
| 1:15 – 3:15 p.m. |
| Making it Tangible: Creating Your Strategic Plan |
During this working session, institutional teams will work together to craft a new comprehensive plan. Faculty will help teams ensure they are considering timelines, institutional priorities, data-collection, assessment, and program resources. |
| 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. |
| Sharing and Analyzing Plans |
During this session, you will share your plans with peers and hear feedback about potential gaps and challenges. Faculty will provide guided feedback to assist teams in modifying plans as needed. |
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
| 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. |
| Continental Breakfast (included in registration) |
| 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. |
| Creating a Culture of Assessment with Data |
Successful retention planning requires constant monitoring of outcomes. In this session, you will learn techniques for revising and updating retention plans based on careful analysis of both student and program data. |
| 10:15 – 11:30 a.m. |
| Considerations for Implementing a Retention Plan |
During this final session, faculty will review lessons they have learned while implementing their own retention plans, help you anticipate possible obstacles, and review practical tips for building campus-wide support for your efforts. |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
| Wrap up and Final Q and A |
| 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. |
| Lunch for Post-Conference Attendees |
| 1:15 – 4:00 p.m. |
| Post-Conference Workshop: Accountability, Learning Outcomes and Retention: What are the Issues? |
This post-conference workshop will walk you through the key components of the three major learning assessment tests and explore the intersections between student learning outcomes data and student retention. We will also explore the interplay between institutional missions and external pressure for accountability to help you craft an assessment plan that reflects your institutional culture. |
Instructors
 Jeffrey Abernathy, Dean and Chief Academic Officer, Augustana College
Jeff Abernathy has served as vice president and dean of Augustana College since 2004. He joined Augustana after serving West Virginia Wesleyan College as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, prior to which he was a faculty member in English at Illinois College, where he also served as associate dean. Abernathy chairs the college's retention committee and has worked with colleagues in admissions, academic affairs, and student affairs to maintain Augustana's strong retention efforts.
 Bernadette Jungblut, Assistant Director, Assessment Planning, University of Central Florida
Bernadette is responsible for the student success, operational data analysis, and assessment research functional areas for SDES. This entails analyzing curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular indicators of students' retention, progression, and graduation success; indentifying high-risk groups and making targeted policy and program recommendations to improve these students' persistence and progression toward degree completion. She is also responsible for developing and maintaining the division's Operational Data Information System and Internal Data Dashboard; and planning, coordinating, reporting and disseminating SDES assessment research projects.
 Thandabantu Maceo, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing, Heidelberg University
Thanda has spent more than 25 years in enrollment management and marketing. Through the SEM initiative at Heidelberg, he has led the institution in the assessment and development of a comprehensive retention plan. He is also recognized for his expertise in admissions, enrollment and financial aid.
 Jeff Papa, President and Partner, SimpsonScarborough
Jeff is a national expert in the areas of enrollment management, admissions, marketing, and student retention. Before joining the SimpsonScarborough team, Papa served as the executive vice president for Carnegie Communications, a marketing firm that provides research, consulting, and creative services to a variety of colleges and universities. In addition, he spent 20 years of his career working in enrollment management and marketing on three college campuses, ranging from large public universities to small, private colleges.
 David C. Paris, Executive Director, New Leadership Alliance for Student Learning and Accountability
David is executive director of the New Leadership Alliance for Student Learning and Accountability. The Alliance aims to improve student learning through voluntary and cooperative professional efforts to significantly improve assessment of, and accountability for, student learning outcomes. He is also a senior fellow at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), senior advisor to the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), and a professor of government at Hamilton College. Paris was one of the primary developers and editors of the statement New Leadership for Student Learning and Accountability: A Statement of Principles, Commitments to Action published in January 2008 by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, with support from the Teagle Foundation.
 Margot Saltonstall, Assessment Coordinator, Northern Arizona University
Margot has worked in K-12 and higher education and conducted assessment in those arenas for over fifteen years. Currently, she oversees assessment activities for the 14 departments of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs (EMSA) at Northern Arizona University and coordinates an assessment team consisting of representatives from these departments. Active in the university's assessment committee, freshman year council, and strategic planning, Margot enjoys working collaboratively with many groups across campus. Along with a few other key players across campus, she developed and leads a multi-pronged effort within EMSA and Academic Affairs to identify, outreach to, provide services to, and track freshman students at risk of leaving the institution. In addition to this freshman intervention program, her work within the division focuses on investigating how students' participation in EMSA programs/services contributes to their academic success, satisfaction, and learning/development.
Note: This program is subject to change without notice.
Location Information
| Date and Location: |
May 17-19, 2010 :: Baltimore, MD |
| Hotel: |
Room Rate: |
Room Block Dates: |
Rate Available Until: |
Hyatt Regency Baltimore on the Inner Harbor, 300 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
To reserve your room, please call 888-421-1442 . Please indicate that you are with the Academic Impressions group to receive the group rate. |
The rate is $175 for single or double occupancy, plus applicable tax.
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A room block has been reserved for the nights of May 16-18, 2010.
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Make your reservations prior to April 26, 2010. There are a limited number of rooms available at the conference rate. Please make your reservations early. |
| Additional Information: |
The Hyatt Regency Baltimore is a harbor hotel, a getaway in the heart of Charm City. The hotel has immediate access to some of the most spectacular downtown Baltimore attractions. It is located 10 miles from Baltimore Washington International airport (BWI).
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Registration Information
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Questions
Call us at 720.488.6800 to help determine if this event is right for you.
Registration
For instant registration, register online or call 720.488.6800. Register Three, Send the Fourth Free!
Registration fee includes: full access to all conference sessions and materials, access to the networking reception on Monday, breakfast and lunch on Tuesday, and breakfast on Wednesday, as well as refreshments and snacks throughout the conference.
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Register Online
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