Objective 3.4.1 Strategies and Benchmarks
3.4.1 Academic Deans will document, acknowledge, and share current retention-related "best practices" of their faculty members.
In spring 2007, the Academic Deans will work with the Advising Office to identify basic nationally recognized retention strategies to be introduced at their first fall 2007 college meetings. Throughout FY '08, the Academic Deans will reinforce the message from the initial college meetings with e-mails, distribution of literature, and presentations by the Advising Office at subsequent college meetings throughout the year. 2007 (program) annual reports will contain retention data and plans to improve program retention.
The Provost will work with the Academic Deans and the Advising Office to plan a workshop for the May 2008 Faculty Retreat focused on national best practices in retention. A follow-up session will be designed for the fall 2008 Coordinators Council meeting prior to the start of the semester.
During FY '09, Provost's Staff will work with UC staff to identify best practices as they pertain to teaching at a distance via ITV, video-conferencing, and online. With cooperation from UC, the results of these efforts will be built into the spring 2009 Faculty Institute.
During FY '10, Academic Deans will continue to work with Coordinators and the Advising Office to refine strategies put into place at the start of fall 2008. Academic Deans with two years of complete program annual reports will work with his/her Coordinators to identify successes and opportunities for improvement. Each college's Coordinators will meet as a group and compare achievements and problems and strategies they have employed to date. The three college groups of Coordinators will prepare a written summary of their collective best practices for retention, which differentiates on-site from at-a-distance strategies. The three reports will be presented and discussed at the May 2010 Faculty Retreat and the fall 2010 Coordinators Council.
During FY '11, Provost's Staff will prepare a report based upon the three college reports, the discussions at the May 2008 and 2010 Faculty Retreats, fall 2010 Coordinators Council, and other input from UC and the Advising Office. A cycle of annual reviews of retention data and the development of strategies will be ongoing and discussed regularly at Faculty Retreats and Coordinators Councils.