Student Retention for Parents

University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College

Importance on Retention

• What is it?

• Why do we focus on it?

• What efforts do we make at URG/RGCC to improve retention?

• Campus wide efforts

• Every student counts

Factors that Affect Student Retention

• Student involvement

• Student frustration

• Academic support

• Communication

• Community

• Parental involvement

Parental Involvement in Retention

• Home based support

• Vast array of experience

• Communication

• Understanding

• Goal setting

• Life experience

Enrollment Factors*

Item Rank For Parents

Rank For Students

Future Employment 1 N/A

Academic Reputation 2 2

Financial aid 3 1

Cost 4 3

Personalized attention 5 5

Campus appearance 6 7

Size of institution 7 6

Geographic setting 8 4

Recommendations from F/F

9 8

Opportunity to play sports

10 9

* Provided by Noel Levitz Parent Satisfaction and Priorities survey

Parental Involvement in Retention

• Avoid over involvement

• Students make mistakes

• Feel free to ask questions

• FERPA

• We are here to help

• Encourage your students to utilize us

• Your opinion matters

Parents & Financial Help

• Help your student understand their loans

• Don’t forget about the FASFA

• 2.9 Billon dollars left in free grant money in the last academic year

• Have a question? We are here to answer it.

• Talk about financial decisions

What to expect

• A transition from caregiver to coach

• Students to evolve, and change

• Students to count on your experience

• A supportive, and open community here at URG/RGCC

• Help, if, or when you need it