Updates to faculty layoff plan and other stuff

[wiu712]

WIU adds academic success coach to increase retention.
From tonight's WGEM News:
www.wgem.com/story/36620157/2017/10/17/ ... -retention

[leatherface]

Tere- or any one else, what would a reasonable retention rate be for a school like Western? Looking at the student profile of incoming freshman- family income, HS GPA, entrance test scores, Western's admission selectivity, size etc.

[Tere North]

Tere- or any one else, what would a reasonable retention rate be for a school like Western? Looking at the student profile of incoming freshman- family income, HS GPA, entrance test scores, Western's admission selectivity, size etc.

While it doesn't specifically answer your question, I thought this might be of interest. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/ra ... ely-return

More specifically to your question, I don't have data with all the factors combined you list, but do have it based on selectivity. Western is rated as a selective institutions (avg ACT 21-26, see p.2). Table 3 on p.5 of the report shows average 1st to 2nd year retention rates for a selective 4-yr public schools offering Bachelors and Masters degrees of 81.3%, while an open admissions school is 55.8%. See https://www.ruffalonl.com/documents/sha ... T_2017.pdf

So I'd venture a reasonable retention rate to be at least 80%, with is about 10 percentage points above where we are at.

From the most recent WIU Factbook (2016) http://www.wiu.edu/IRP/FactBook16.pdf, incoming freshman ACT has ranged from 20.7 to 21.1 for 2012-2016 for all admits, and 21.6 to 22.0 for regular admits (Table 4, p. 14), putting us at the bottom edge of of the ACT selective category, but we do report as selective. For the same relative time range, 1st to 2nd year retention rates have ranged from 63.3% to 72.7%, (Table 35, p.84) so overall, about 70%.

[ST_Lawson]

I pulled the data for retention rates for Midwest Regional Universities and threw it in a table. If you're curious where we rank in comparison to other colleges and universities in our region, you can view it here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... ingle=true

Western is listed at 68% and from the website:

The retention rates shown below, from highest to lowest, are the average proportion of freshmen entering starting in fall 2012 through fall 2015 who returned to school the following fall.

[leatherface]

I didn't realize- and this is not intended to be a snarky question- that Western is listed as selective in admissions. I have believed it was slightly selective or even open admission. Maybe this is something marketing should promote more- attract a focused student who's a good fit should help retention while improving even yet the quality of incoming students. I don't know that the general public-possible future students and families- know Western is listed as selective. That term mentioned over and over by Western should/could be a brand initiative.

[Tere North]

I pulled the data for retention rates for Midwest Regional Universities and threw it in a table. If you're curious where we rank in comparison to other colleges and universities in our region, you can view it here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... ingle=true

Western is listed at 68% and from the website:

The retention rates shown below, from highest to lowest, are the average proportion of freshmen entering starting in fall 2012 through fall 2015 who returned to school the following fall.

And if you compare to our self-selected peer group (http://www.wiu.edu/IRP/peerinstitutions.php), we rank dead last.
Appalachian State University 87%
Central Washington University 77%
Grand Valley State University 83%
James Madison University 88%
Montclair State University 77%
Truman State University 88%
University of Central Missouri 70%
University of Nebraska at Kearney 80%
University of Northern Iowa 84%
University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse 86%
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 76%
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 80%
William Paterson University 76%

Average of these peers, 81%. Western, 68%, using the same source as Scott (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/ra ... ely-return)

[leatherface]

Tere-or any one else, why is this so low? Since this has been a problem for some time, I would imagine the school has been trying to figure this out through exit interviews or other surveys, but, they must have some ideas in mind. Is Western picking up too many students who really didn't know if they wanted to go to a four year school and left because of not liking the "life" in general, or, is it thought the school isn't doing enough to engage students in university life? If a student doesn't feel engaged, they will leave. Does Student Life need more assistance in planning events or activities? As many have said before, until this is solved, Western will continue to have enrollment issues.
I've always wondered why there isn't as much school pride as some other institutions seem to have.They need to look at not only why students are leaving, but, why are students coming to Western.

[Tere North]

Tere-or any one else, why is this so low? Since this has been a problem for some time, I would imagine the school has been trying to figure this out through exit interviews or other surveys, but, they must have some ideas in mind. Is Western picking up too many students who really didn't know if they wanted to go to a four year school and left because of not liking the "life" in general, or, is it thought the school isn't doing enough to engage students in university life? If a student doesn't feel engaged, they will leave. Does Student Life need more assistance in planning events or activities? As many have said before, until this is solved, Western will continue to have enrollment issues.
I've always wondered why there isn't as much school pride as some other institutions seem to have.They need to look at not only why students are leaving, but, why are students coming to Western.

We do exit interviews, but report what the interviewer "thinks" is the issue, not what the student says the issue is. Our lower academic students are not significantly more likely to leave than our upper level admits. The answer is very simply, lack of "fit" and we do little to improve that fit. National surveys, like NSSE, have been showing this problem for some time, but Western has refused to make changes, rather steadfastly believing the know the real reason instead of accepting the evidence. Until that arrogance changes, little will improve. It's not about activities, it's about fit, do you feel welcomed, appreciated, etc. The answer for far too many students is, NO. And if you don't find that fit in the first 6-8 weeks, you're far more likely to leave. Seldom is Western a 1st choice institution, but rather, well, I can get it. You're right, pride is lacking. But then, we have no signature to be proud of as Western has added and added, resulting in mediocrity instead of excellence in fewer offerings.

[wiu712]

Illinois Higher Education Board Looks to Move Past Budget Impasse, Restore Confidence.

From Tri-States Public Radio WIUM-FM:
http://tspr.org/post/illinois-higher-ed ... &utm_term=

[wiu712]

Illinois House Bill 4103 was discussed at last week's Brown Bag Discussion with President Thomas. 4103 would mean that certain majors would be offered only at certain universities.

From today's Western Courier:
https://westerncourier.com/39186/news/t ... scussions/