One of the biggest challenges that colleges and universities face today is that the number of students who fail to 
complete their studies. This problem has increased exponentially over the years with nearly half of all American students dropping out of college before they can earn their degrees. Such situations are not completely out of the student’s hands.
Factors for Student Attrition
The factors that contribute to student attrition and dropouts include:
- Lack of parent engagement
- Work/Family economic needs
- Poor academic performance
- Lack of a supportive adult
- Not enough individualized attention
- Disconnect between school academics and work
- Low student engagement
Student Retention Strategies
Higher education institutions are focused on improving student retention rates through a variety of services and programs. Many institutions have developed offices or departments designed to improve student retention rates through orientations or student and academic support services.
Many cutting edge technological tools also provide early warning indicators to easily identify the trends and patterns of students who are at risk of attrition and dropping out. It is important that colleges and universities address the challenges of student departure from colleges and improve retention.
Have a look at these 5 tips to prevent student attrition and dropouts:
- Teach Students Success Habits
Many students abandon colleges or universities because they fail to understand what is expected from them. They are unfamiliar with the resources that the university offers. Therefore, it is important that the universities provide campus resources to students through orientation and first-year seminars.
- Develop Small Goals
Surveys suggest that only 53% of public colleges have their goals defined for student retention. Universities that do not set goals have a harder time to measure their success and to put effective programs in place. Therefore, it is critical that they establish goals for student retention and degree attainment.
- Develop Intervention Programs
One of the most effective and efficient ways to improve student retention is to reach at-risk students before they leave the university. Students who are experiencing personal, academic, financial, or social problems should be informed of the institution’s resources and available workshops that can help them address the issue at hand.
- Focus on Building Community
Establishing communities—both in and out of the classroom—is an effective way to build a network for students, which help them to overcome their feelings of isolation. A sense of community also supports healthy study habits and high academic performance.
- Increase Resources for Academic Counselling
Academic counselling is an important factor for student success. Knowledgeable, helpful, and accessible counsellors are essential, to help students access campus programs and resources, which in turn improves retention rates.
For more insights on the best ways for promoting student retention and college completion, attend a Webinar by expert speaker Joe Cuseo. Joe holds a doctoral degree in Educational Psychology and Assessment from the University of Iowa and is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Marymount College (California)-where for more than 25 years he directed the first-year seminar-a core course required of all new students. You will also learn about major reasons for high student dropout rates.
