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Canaries in the Coal Mine: How Student Withdrawals and Institutional Change

Intersect to Improve Retention

Why the Withdrawals?

?

The Costs of Attrition

For students:• Financial consequences• Motivational consequences

For institutions:• Financial consequences• Circumvention of mission

Withdrawal Categories

Institutional

Academic

Other or Unknown

Financial Aid

Social orCommunityPsyc

hological or

Health

Institutional 26.15%

• Transfer programs (same and different school)

• Significant dissatisfaction with institutional processes

• Transfer credit policy limitations• Obtaining course materials in time• Lack of communication with faculty members

Academic 24.62%

• Time management (did not devote enough time or started term late)

• Academic suspension• Uncomfortable with online course format• Unclear academic or career goals• Poor reading and writing comprehension

Other or Unknown 23.08%

• Stopped participating and communicating with Success Coach

• No start; no contact• TLH learns of withdrawal from school

academic advisor• Unknown; no disclosure; no reason given

Financial Aid 11.54%

• Did not qualify for assistance programs• Tuition affordability• Debt anxiety• Missed deadlines• Book expenses

Social or Community 8.46%

• Alternative employment• Time management, employment• Time management, family

Psychological or Health 6.15%

• Time management, health care for others• Time management, health concerns for self• Hospitalization

Recommendations: Streamline Student Services

Registration, Advising and Financial Aid

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• Leverage technology• Develop clear course maps• Communicate clear registration details• Provide priority registration• Broadcast an online student academic

calendar• Dedicate advisor(s) for online programs.• Create a customer-friendly financial aid

office• Distribute aid three or more times a year

Do Canaries Play Possum? The Limits of Student Self-reporting

Herzberg’s two-factor theory: The absence of something may have a different effect than its presence

• Examples of internal versus external cause attribution

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Recommendations: Capacity Building

Desired Capacity Possible Intervention(s)Basic learning management system (LMS) and computer skills

Online orientation

Goal commitment Coaching and appreciative advising

Frequent quality feedback Coaching and professional development

Self-efficacy and personal growth Coaching and appreciative advising

Connectedness Online orientation, student portals and social media

A combination of institutional changes and specific interventions can build capacities that empower students and foster success.

Results: What to Expect

• Sample results• 24.7% retention gains across

a single semester• Correction of policies that

had previously resulted in 13% higher attrition rates

• Term retention rates of 90% and higher

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Thank youDr. Howell Williams

hwilliams@learninghouse.com