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List of all Retention Council Agendas & Minutes
Agendas & Minutes for January 15, 2003
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Agenda of the Retention Council
Schine 304 A, B 10:00 a.m. - Noon
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Announcements |
Horace Smith |
| II. |
Review of Meeting Minutes for November 13, 2002 |
Horace Smith |
| III. |
Review and Discussion |
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Where we are relative to our goals? Consideration of our accomplishments to date and the outstanding issues associated with reaching our graduation goals. |
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1. Framing our discussion through our history of achievement |
Barry Wells |
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2. Data Review |
Bobbi Yonai, Anne Shelly |
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3. Strategies: Recognizing our accomplishments
Tackling outstanding issues |
Horace Smith |
| Next Meeting: February 12, 2003, Schine 228B (Please note location change) |
Minutes of the Retention Council
In Attendance: Marlene Blumin, Maureen Breed, Ron Cavanagh, Andrew Clark, James Duah-Agyeman, Rosanna Grassi, Marlene Hall, Judy Hamilton, Sandra Hurd, Dave Kohr, JoAnn May, Helen Murray, Ken Miles, Lena Rose Orlando, Michael Olivette, David Potter, Amie Redmond, Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, Hannah Richardson, Nancy Rothschild, Anne Shelly, Horace Smith, Eric Spina, Keith Stevenson, Seth Tucker, Anastasia Urtz, Michael Wasylenko, Tim Wasserman, Barry Wells, Barbara Yonai
Guests: Matt Snyder, News Services
I. Announcements
Smith - Introduced Tim Wasserman, Assistant Director, CSTL as a newCouncil member.
Minutes from November 13, 2002 were passed without revisions.
II. History of Retention/Attrition Efforts
Senior Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs Barry L. Wells gave a presentation entitled "Background Summary on Retention and Attrition Initiatives at Syracuse University at Syracuse University." (Graphics from presentation attached.)
III. Retention/Graduation Data Review
Bobbi Yonai and Anne Shelly reviewed current retention data and research
Yonai - Projected 4-yr. graduation rate for 1998 cohort is tacking to an estimated 63.5% about 5% less than the 1997 cohort. (Formal report will be available shortly). All schools and colleges should check this cohort and insure that late certifications are done.
Potter/Richardson - Inquired about getting comparative data on individual schools and colleges from the group of 12 comparative schools.
Shelly - In summary, study of high-achieving leavers concluding:
Students experiencing lack of academic challenge
Don't feel they are getting value for the money
Although the majority leaves after the first-year spring semester, doubts arise early in the fall semester and decision to depart frequently made during holiday break.
IV. Plan to Recognize our Accomplishments
Matt Snyder (News Services) presented a plan to promote the University's retention achievements particularly for students of color. (See attached summary.)
Hamilton - Emphasis in proposed plan on our institutional "experts" might promote readers to miss the collective power of our organizational structure that promotes "grass roots" input. Also concerned about lack of faculty awareness of high-achieving leavers. We really need to get this word out. External promotion of our achievements might cloud the continuing issues by creating the perception that we have succeeded.
Snyder - Pushing the good news will get people's attention and allow us to educate them about the lingering issues. Assures Council that "grass roots" model will be part of the story.
Urtz - Suggested the weekly "Black Voice" would be interested in the story.
Potter - Affirmative action is in the news with the Michigan case. Stepping forward with our own position on minority enrollment is a good idea. Also, practical achievements will provide another source of achievements for the story(ies) (e.g. mid-semester progress reports revision is a good opportunity if it pans out.)
Snyder - We will be cautious about what and how we report these issues.
Smith - We have many internal constituencies that do not understand what we have accomplished and what we have to do. This effort is a necessity to get others in the institution to support our efforts.
Cavanagh - Agrees that we have to pursue a story that elaborates where we have come from and where we are going.
Duah-Aghyeman - Some students of color still concerned about how welcoming the environment is.
Snyder - Perceptions of where we are are 20 years old. The entire community needs to be educated and updated about the current state of retention efforts.
Wells - Will not be happy until we have achieved parity between black and white graduation rates but we should be proud of our accomplishments to date. Make no mistake, the environment is not fine for students of color, LGBT students, and other special populations. We have a lot left to do. Faculty, in particular, need better awareness. The intent of this effort is to share progress so we can get more people to buy into the process for addressing the work we have left to do. This is not an effort to "pat ourselves on the back."
Smith - Announced several initiatives from Student Support and Retention toward next steps with students:
SummerStart will step up its work with the schools and colleges as a tool for improved retention particularly for students of color.
The Learning Resource Center will reach out to schools and colleges to work toward improved academic support options.
The Student Success Initiative (SSUI) will assume a broader role in helping more students achieve success. They will work with the schools and colleges to identify target populations in the broader context of SSUI's new model.
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