Take a strategic look at your student success efforts and develop a retention plan that connects your data, institutional mission, and available resources.
Overview
Join us for this long-standing, must-attend conference to develop a campus-wide retention plan that ties your mission, data, and programming together in a unified approach. This year, our expert speakers will share the latest insights they have learned as we continue to navigate the effects of the pandemic. Whether you have a retention plan already in place or are just getting started, you will leave this training with an outlined, improved plan built with the help of practical tips and small-group expert coaching you will receive throughout this event.
You will leave the conference with the ability to approach retention holistically by:
- Beginning before students arrive on campus
- Tying your retention data, programming, and goals together
- Auditing your existing programs and determining what is working and what can be improved
- Prioritizing which retention programs to cut and which to keep
- Recommended Workshop: Working with Institutional Data for Student Retention
Optional Team Coaching
As part of this virtual conference, you will have the opportunity to sign up for a 30-minute team coaching session with one of our expert speakers. This is your chance to ask questions, get personalized advice, and get help in putting what you learned into action. You will receive instructions prior to the conference to sign up for your coaching slot.
- Coaching Session A: Monday, November 9, 2020 (3:00 – 5:00 p.m.)
- Coaching Session B: Monday, November 16, 2020 (4:30 – 5:00 p.m.)
- Coaching Session C: Tuesday, November 17, 2020 (11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Who Should Attend
This event is designed for higher education professionals and committees charged with improving retention or student success. This may include enrollment managers, student and academic affairs leaders, and assessment coordinators or committee members. The conference will provide valuable content for leadership and frontline staff alike
Recommended Workshop: Working with Institutional Data for Student Retention
Institutional Research (IR) data is a powerful tool for understanding attrition, planning programs, and predicting enrollment. Student affairs and enrollment professionals often yearn for access to data, but when they do have access, they may struggle with distilling the information they need, using data effectively, and working with IR departments to ask the right questions.
This virtual workshop is strongly recommended to those conference attendees who would like to learn how to:
- Define factors associated with retention
- Recognize patterns and correlations
- Communicate with IR teams to effectively examine data
The workshop is designed for professionals outside of Institutional Research who want to learn the basics of data analysis and are seeking ways to manage, extract, and explain results to campus leaders. Separate registration required.
Get a $195 discount when you register for this conference and Working with Institutional Data for Student Retention at the same time.
Save over 15% when you register three or more colleagues.
Limited Attendance
In order to ensure a high-quality learning experience, we have intentionally designed this Virtual Training to have a limited number of total attendees. To ensure access from both paying participants and also from those who have an All-Inclusive membership, when the membership cap is reached, only paying participants can register after that point (while spaces are still available). If you have questions about whether this program is right for you, please contact us.
The Academic Impressions Online Learning Experience
Intentionally Designed
Online Learning
Our virtual trainings go far beyond just replicating PowerPoint presentations online: these experiences are intentionally designed to give you the kind of robust and dynamic learning experience you’ve come to expect from Academic Impressions. These trainings provide you with an active learning environment and an online space where you can explore ideas, get inspired by what your peers are doing, and understand the range of possibilities around a certain topic. You will leave these sessions with practical solutions that you can take back to your team or task force.
What you will get:
- A dynamic, interactive, and high-touch virtual learning experience designed to engage and set you up for growth
- Seamless online face-time, networking, group work, and Q&A opportunities from the comfort of your own workspace
- Practical takeaways and hands-on knowledge
- Guidance from vetted subject matter experts
- Unlimited access to all recorded online sessions
See What Our Attendees are Saying
AGENDA
Recommended Workshop | Monday, November 9, 2020
Separate Registration Required: Sign Up Here
Working with Institutional Data for Student Retention
12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Institutional Research (IR) data is a powerful tool for understanding attrition, planning programs, and predicting enrollment. Student affairs and enrollment professionals often yearn for access to data, but when they do have access, they may struggle with distilling the information they need, using data effectively, and working with IR departments to ask the right questions.
This virtual workshop is strongly recommended to those conference attendees who would like to learn how to:
- Define factors associated with retention
- Recognize patterns and correlations
- Communicate with IR teams to effectively examine data
This workshop is designed for professionals outside of Institutional Research who want to learn the basics of data analysis and are seeking ways to manage, extract, and explain results to campus leaders.
Get $195 off when you register for this conference and Working with Institutional Data for Student Retention at the same time.
Note: This workshop is not included in your conference registration. Please sign up separately. A limited number of members can register for free.
Meet & Greet
11:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m.
You will have a chance to connect with our expert speakers and other attendees, share how you’ve adapted your retention efforts in light of the pandemic, and discuss what you’ve learned since March.
Welcome and Introductions
12:00—12:15 p.m.
Setting the Stage for Retention: Defining a Comprehensive Approach
12:15—1:00 p.m.
In this opening session we will help you understand the core components of a comprehensive approach to retention planning: data, programming, assessment, and buy-in. You will be able to broadly identify the steps that our expert speakers took at their campuses to embrace a comprehensive approach to retention. You will also glean helpful insights on how they’ve continued to pivot throughout the pandemic.
Break
1:00—1:15 p.m.
Start at the Beginning: The Role of Admissions in the Comprehensive Plan
1:15—2:00 p.m.
Effective retention programming begins before freshman year. You need to understand the profile of the entering class before you create programming. During this session, you will be able to define and apply the admissions application data that is crucial for retention programming on your specific campus, including: demographics, academic preparation, financial aid eligibility, and other indicators of student success.
Data, Programming, and Goal Setting
2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Professionals charged with improving retention rates know that data is important; however, they often need guidance to understand patterns, tie data to programming goals, and set realistic goals for improvement. During this section of the training, you will be able to:
- Analyze your own data
- Interpret how it fits with your institutional priorities
- Consider how you can start the planning process and involve other stakeholders
You will review several case studies that provide examples for how to get started in isolating your institutional data patterns and begin the goal-setting process for optimal results.
Break
2:45—3:15 p.m.
Turning Data into Programs
3:15—4:15 p.m.
Now that you understand your retention patterns, your current programs, and your goals for improvement, you must begin selecting programming options that will serve your comprehensive student retention plan. Our speakers will share examples of new programs that they implemented based on their data analysis, then you will begin to design customized retention programs that meet your unique institutional retention goals.
Day 1 Wrap-Up
4:15—4:30 p.m.
As we conclude our first day together, you will have an opportunity to ask questions of the speakers and connect with other attendees around shared challenges and opportunities
Sign-In
11:50 a.m.—12:00 p.m.
Day 2 Opening Remarks
12:00 - 12:15 p.m.
Working Session: Self-Audit of Programs
12:15—1:15 p.m.
We will help you understand which retention efforts or programs you already have in place, which ones are working effectively, and which ones need improvement. After this session, you will be able to develop a retention road map for your institution that identifies retention priorities based on enrollment goals, student data, attrition factors, and institutional resources.
Break
1:15—1:30 p.m.
Resource, Outsource, and Budgetary Considerations
1:30—2:30 p.m.
Not all institutions have the resources needed to impact specific retention rates. This hour will feature a discussion of no-cost and low-cost strategies that you can use to assist with assessment and programming efforts. You will be able to identify at least two no-cost or low-cost strategies for your programming efforts while making the case for how these strategies will improve your campus’ return on investment.
Working Session: Crafting Your Retention Plan
2:30—3:00 p.m.
During this session, you will work with your teams to craft an initial comprehensive retention plan. You will receive guided feedback from our speakers on the feasibility of your planning models.
Knowing When and How to Eliminate Programs
3:00—4:00 p.m.
Successful retention programming requires constant monitoring of outcomes and the ability to make ongoing decisions about programs and resources. You will be able to analyze your current programs and understand how staff, campus culture, control of programs, and consequences of decisions all play a role when it is time to revise and update retention efforts and programs.
Break
4:00—4:15 p.m.
Setting the Stage for Retention and Deciding Your First Action Steps
4:15—4:45 p.m.
Knowing how to identify priorities, involve stakeholders, and make data-based decisions will influence how your campus sets the stage for quality retention efforts. During this session, you will a) discuss key conversations to have when you return to campus, b) consider initial funding sources, and c) identify your biggest needs/quickest wins in terms of retention. Based on the collective information and resources gained from this conference, you will be ready to identify key action steps for your return to campus.
Final Q&A & Conference Wrap-Up
4:45—5:00 p.m.
SPEAKERS
W. Kent Barnds
Executive Vice President and Vice President of Enrollment, Communication, and Planning, Augustana College
Since his arrival at Augustana in 2005, Kent has overseen the largest enrollment in the college’s history. He oversees the offices of admissions, financial assistance, and marketing, and he serves a critical role on the comprehensive retention committee.
Veronica Hipolito
Vice President of Student Affairs, Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Veronica has over 20 years of experience in higher education in both university and community college settings. Prior to her work in the Maricopa Community College District, Veronica worked at Coconino Community College (CCC) and served on the leadership team that created the CCC2NAU program, a nationally recognized partnership with Northern Arizona University.
Bernadette Jungblut
Associate Provost for Accreditation, Academic Planning, and Assessment at Central Washington University
In her current role, Bernadette M.E. Jungblut, Ph.D., is responsible for university-wide strategic planning, regional and specialized accreditation, comprehensive retention planning and assessment, and Academic Affairs and Student Life new program development, assessment, and evaluation.
Margot Saltonstall
Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, Northern Arizona University
Dr. Margot Saltonstall oversees Analytics & Assessment and Enrollment & Student Services at Northern Arizona University. She provides leadership and coordination for enrollment initiatives across campus locations, modalities, and undergraduate/graduate populations and is responsible for divisional data analyses underlying those and retention/persistence initiatives. She has worked in higher education for over twenty years and holds a PhD in educational psychology and MA in cultural anthropology.
PRICING
Can't attend the conference? Buy the binder.
Register for the recommended workshop, Working with Institutional Data for Student Retention.
Questions About the Event?
Jess Landis
Program Manager, Academic Impressions
*There are limited spots available for All-Inclusive Members to register for Virtual Conferences for free in 2020. Each virtual conference has a registration cap in order to ensure a high-quality learning experience, personalized attention, networking and interactivity. If the cap has been met, All-Inclusive Members can register with a $250 discount if space is available.
Academic Affairs, Advancement/Alumni Relations, Enrollment Management, and Student Affairs members will continue to receive $100 off conference registrations, if applicable. Upgrade your membership to qualify for a higher discount.
Please note the member discount is not applicable on conference binders or success coaching.