Linking college students with relevant student retention resources throughout the first year

We are nearing the end of the first semester, or quarter semester, and you may be wondering…. Have your students received the resources they needed and wanted during their first semester? How can you ensure that they have been made aware of the tools they need to be successful during their freshman year and beyond?

Track changes in first-year student motivations and attitudes

Assessing freshman students early in their first term allows for proactive interventions, but first-year students can also undergo significant changes in attitudes, outlook, and motivations during that first term. A mid-year follow-up assessment allows for future planning of outreach and focused activities at the end of the first term and into the spring period.

By assessing students at the mid-year, you can identify the areas where students say they need assistance and specific resources that they want to learn more about—such as getting involved on campus, assistance with writing, and getting connected to a tutor. You can also determine students’ plans to transfer at the mid-year and perhaps take steps to retain them.

In short, following up at mid-year can provide intentional outreach that will help your freshmen class become even more connected, informed and successful as they prepare for the remainder of their freshman year.

Use assessment data to adjust intervention and retention strategies during the first year

Tailoring interventions and recommendations can avoid a “one-size-fits-all” approach to student retention. Use the data you collect to customize campus resources to fit the needs of each student. Look for trends in specific subpopulations, which can then inform retention planning.

Here are a few examples to illustrate how to customize your retention actions based on mid-year assessment data:

• If students at mid-year highlight a problem, such as a lack of confidence in math, then have programs in place to improve math skills.
• For students who indicate less receptivity to assistance, consider adding more structured interventions such as peer mentoring or mandatory academic support so that they get help even if they are reluctant to seek it.
• Give advisors access to the mid-year assessment data so they can see changes in attitudes and tailor interventions to match students as their educational paths evolve.

Engage first-year students in career planning

As students begin to complete college coursework, one of the best ways to demonstrate the value of their studies is to connect what they are learning to future career possibilities. Most students want this kind of assistance; in the 2013 National Freshman Attitudes Report , 66 percent of students said they wanted assistance with selecting an educational plan for getting a good job. However, in the most recent Noel-Levitz report on mid-year freshman attitudes, fewer than half of students at four-year institutions reported receiving career planning assistance by the end of the first term (60 percent of students at two-year institutions said they received assistance with career planning).

Some strategies that you can incorporate include:

• Educating students on the advantages/disadvantages of specific occupations.
• Incorporating career-focused discussion within the classroom.
• Connecting students with alumni mentors or potential employers.
• Polling students on their career interests and using that information for follow-up sessions.

Build a bridge to the second term and beyond

The first term at college can dramatically shift a student’s attitudes, behaviors, and goals. While assessing incoming freshmen is a crucial step in getting students on the path to educational completion, it’s also important to remember how much students can change during that first term. Mid-year assessment can help your campus adapt your retention initiatives to those changes and keep them more effective. This is why Noel-Levitz offers a companion Mid-Year Student Assessment for its entering student College Student Inventory. Regardless of how you assess students, however, be sure to track their development during the first year so you can help them finish the freshman year and continue on their educational journey.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email or leave a comment below.