Retention a pressing problem

Retention has been a problem and the issue has become a number one priority

Retention, or the number of students who remain to graduate from Oberlin, has become the college's number one priority.

At the September General Faculty meeting President Dye stated her goals for the semester.

One of Dye's main goals was retention. "Oberlin's rate of graduation is at 80 percent, which is good for the Conservatory but for the college it's quite low- eight to ten percent lower than other colleges at our same status," Dye said. She said the low rate is a major reason for Oberlin's low position in the US News and World Report college rankings. "We want to understand and recognize the problem," Dye said.

Although Dye said she doesn't know why the graduation rate is so low, she has a few ideas. She discussed a project conducted by Assistant to the President Diana Roose which surveyed students about their satisfaction with Oberlin. Dye said the research suggested many students enjoy the small niches they fall into but lack and desire a sense of a larger community. She said students who "identify and have a sense of a larger community" will be more likely to finish a degree.

"There are many intricate social and academic factors affecting a student's decision to leave. Certain colleges have always carried traditional activities such as sports or religion which brings students together," She reflected that this sort of bond is missing at Oberlin.

The administration has conducted a study on African-American student retention, which produced results linking retention to activity in community service and campus organization.

According to Roose, there are three principle reasons why Oberlin students choose not to finish a degree according to the study. These include financial, academic, social and personal reasons. One measure that has been taken is to add a financial counselor to the Oberlin staff to work closely with the students and help them with their problems.

They have also worked to help students by strengthening the Student Academic Advising Program and all student support services.

Those who received assistance with financial problems were far more likely to graduate (85 percent) than those who did not receive such help (60 percent). Eighty-one percent of respondents to the 1997 black student survey had been on financial aid. The graduation rate for those receiving financial aid was the same for those who were not.

Koppes speculated that the problem of retention may lie in whether students are taking too many hours at one time. He questioned "Whether our program for first-year students is sufficient enough to orient them to a successful college career."

Social reasons seem to be the largest factor in the lack of student retention. "People come and find small communities to attach to, but they don't have a sense of attachment to the Oberlin community as a whole," Roose said.

Many students feel that the retention rate of students of color is tied directly to the way that they relate to and are treated by others on campus, including the administration.

The class of '97 black student graduation rate was 39 percent, while the student body as a whole held a rate of 63 percent. The 1998 graduation rate was 65 percent for all students and 59 percent for black students, a twenty-percent increase. Administrators are holding their breath to find out what the rates for students of color will be this year.