“Retention” rarely appears on those lists of higher ed jargon to avoid. While college students can identify countless unwelcoming phrases and acronyms, employees in higher education have no trouble agreeing on retention’s definition: keeping enrolled students enrolled. But when university leaders call retention the responsibility of every faculty and staff member, confusion may follow. When those same university leaders prioritize retention efforts, both strategy and culture have to shift and align with the goal of helping students succeed.
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Why We Need to Fight for Our Students: The Example of Stephanie Land
It is a commonplace to say that our campuses need to be “student centered.” That we need to “meet students where they are” and recognize that our students are less