RETENTION EFFORTS 2

Retention Efforts

Online Resource
College student retention [electronic resource]: formula for student success / [edited by] Alan
Seidman. Available at: http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy-
library.ashford.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat02191a&AN=aul.EBC864776&site=e
ds-live&scope=site (Accessed: 19 October 2020).
The above resource is an e-book that addresses student retention in colleges. Alan
Seidman analyzes higher education with a particular focus being put on access and retention,
which still remains a vexing issue for legislators and educators. Seidman examines critical areas
related to college retention. He discusses theories, models, and concepts on college retention
provides a standardized definition of college retention, the history of college retention, and
strategies used to enhance college retention in modern-day colleges and universities. Seidman
and his contributors weigh on the impact of financial capabilities on retention trends. Seidman
provides a formula and model for student success and retention in colleges, which, if
implemented, can have positive effects on student retention and help them achieve their personal
and academic goals.
Reasons why students may stop pursuing their college degree
A student may stop pursuing their degree due to financial constraints. The cost of
acquiring a college degree in the United States has continued to rise. According to a study done,
the cost of acquiring a degree in a private college tripled in three decades from 1980 to 2010
(Cook & Pullaro, 2010). Further, student loan debts accumulate to thousands of dollars per
student borrower. Even as the cost rises, most graduates are not guaranteed employment. It is not

RETENTION EFFORTS 3
certain whether the credentials will help earn a student a job. After a cost-benefit analysis,
students realize that, after all, maybe a college degree is not worth all the investment. After
realizing that dropping out will put them financially ahead with lesser debts, then they opt out of
college and enter the job market. Some students decide that it would be better to drop out than
plow through debts. Loans used to finance college education cannot be discharged through
bankruptcy.
Inadequate preparation while in high school. Lack of readiness to handle college
workload forces some students out of the system. When students did not receive proper
preparation in key areas such as mathematics and languages, they find it hard to cope in college
and just opt out of college. A student’s mental attitude has a great impact on their success in
college (Schuh et al., 2017). Students may get disoriented after realizing that they cannot fit in
the more autonomous college environment. The inability to adapt to a more structured and
complex learning environment can make students drop out of college.
Another reason that may make students stop pursuing their college degrees is uncertainty
about the choice of their major. When students are not sure or convinced that they have selected
the correct major, then they may drop out. This mostly occurs when the major was not the
student’s first choice or when the major fails to meet the student’s expectations. Also, when a
student fails to meet the entry requirement for their desired major, they may be forced to settle
for one which they do not like. Along the course of their degree, they may drop out because that
was not their choice.
Describe what your online resource provides that may be of use to assist students who stop
pursuing degrees.

RETENTION EFFORTS 4
Students should persist and seek various forms of aid to enhance their rate of continuing
higher education. For instance, if a student is a non-resident, they should seek residency first in
the state where they are pursuing a college education. This will ensure that they do not have to pa
non-resident tuition and consequently relieve them of some financial burden. Establishing
residency is one of the strategies that a student can use to enhance their ability to pay for their
tuition fees. A student’s residency status is an overlapping issue with student finances. If the
factor is addressed, then a student’s financial burden is reduced (Seidman, 2012). Students’
aspirations have a positive impact on retention. A college student that understands what they
want to pursue and one who sets their goals in advance is more likely to choose the right majors.
Thus, having high educational aspirations is key to ensuring that students persist and do not stop
pursuing their college degrees.
Discuss how this activity has informed your ideas concerning the role you play in
supporting student retention efforts.
Overall, this activity has been instrumental in helping me identify my role in supporting
student retention efforts. One of the reasons why students drop is poor secondary preparation. As
a high school teacher, I have a critical role in ensuring that students are well prepared,
specifically in major areas, which are languages and mathematics. When students are well
prepared, then the retention rates will be high. As such, I will be intentional in my role as an
educator in ensuring that my instruction is geared towards enhancing student’s college readiness.
By playing my role as an educator well, I will have sealed the loophole of poor secondary
preparation, and thus retention rates will be higher.

RETENTION EFFORTS 5

References

Cook, B., & Pullaro, N. (2010). College graduation rates: Behind the numbers.
Schuh, J. H., Jones, S. R., & Torres, V. (Eds.) (2017). Student services: A handbook for the
profession (6th ed.). Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com
Seidman, A. (Ed.). (, 2012). College student retention: Formula for student success. ProQuest
Ebook Central https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.proxy-library.ashford.edu