Retention rate rises to 96 percent
Programs help freshmen connect

By Carrie Woodall
Staff Reporter

The retention rate for returning freshmen in spring 2001 increased one percent from last year, said Patrick Miller, registrar and director of enrollment management.

The percent of freshmen who returned to the university following their first semester increased from 95 percent in spring 2000 to 96 percent this semester, Miller said.

“Freshmen retention is not the driving force behind a request for change in the core, but will be affected by it and should therefore be a consideration in framing the core,” said Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs.

He said TCU officials are looking at ways to make the core curriculum more interesting, relevant, challenging and its mission directed to meet the academic needs of the students. These steps may serve to increase retention, he said.

In addition to revising the core, the university offers freshmen a number of programs which serve to help them become involved in campus life.

Penny Woodcock, TCU Leadership Center coordinator, said students must make a strong connection to the university in their first year so that they will have the desire to return.

“Providing students the opportunity to get involved and allowing significant faculty interaction in the freshmen programs helps students to feel that they are a part of the university,” Woodcock said.

Shelly Taylor, a freshman speech communication major, said the opportunities for freshmen to be a part of organizations on campus helped her to make connections and encouraged her to stay at TCU.

“I was excited about freshmen being able to obtain leadership positions on campus,” Taylor said. “I was able to run for a position on Programming Council which really made me feel a part of the student body.”

Woodcock said Student Development Services offers orientation, Frog Camp and the Chancellor’s Leadership Program for freshmen. The activities fair and Howdy Week held each fall also enhance their ability to get connected and involved, she said.

“Satisfaction rate with orientation is high among freshmen,” she said. “Frog camp has a high participation rate, and (the Chancellor’s Leadership Program) has grown in leaps and bounds in the two years it has been available.”

Despite these programs and other efforts, the year-to-year retention rate continues to be lower than other private institutions.

According to Institutional Research, the retention rate for freshmen returning for their second year in fall 2000 was 82 percent.
Retention rate from fall 1999 to fall 2000 for Baylor University was 86 percent, according to the admissions department.

anderbilt University reported about a 94 percent freshmen retention rate.

Susan Adams, associate vice chancellor and dean of campus life, said TCU is trying to improve retention rates in a variety of ways.

“Most incoming students are goal oriented and are looking for graduation,” she said. “Freshmen programs help them to learn to overcome obstacles which affects retention rates.”

Carrie Woodall
c.d.woodall@student.tcu.edu