Question: What do you get when you combine a directive to build a formal retention plan for adult learners, a retention rookie, and an overwhelming sea of data? Answer: A blueprint for success Join Mercer University’s enrollment management team as they explain the nuts and bolts of successfully building an adult student retention plan. During our time, Amanda Bentley, Director of Enrollment Management Data Systems and Megan DeLong, Director of Enrollment Management Services will cover the keys to success including departments to involve, questions to ask, and examples of success.

1. Nuts and Bolts:
BUILDING A RETENTION PLAN
FOR ADULT LEARNERS

2. 2
INTRODUCTIONS
Catherine Herzog
Account Executive
Hobsons EMS
Megan DeLong
Director of Enrollment Management Services
Mercer University

3. 3
Historical Data
Building The Plan
Questions
Building The Task Force
Managing The Task Force
About Mercer
Goals & Assessment
WELCOME

4. 4
ABOUT MERCER

5. 5
ABOUT MERCER
Mercer University’s mission:
To Teach, To Learn, To Create,
To Discover, To Inspire, To
Empower, & To Serve

6. 6
ABOUT MERCER
12 SCHOOLS & COLLEGES
8 LOCATIONS STATEWIDE
8,557 FALL 2014 ENROLLMENT

7. 7
ABOUT MERCER
THE
DUKE
EFFECT

8. 8
ABOUT MERCER
WHO WE ARE:
THE COLLEGES
• Penfield College of Mercer
University
• Tift College of Education
• Stetson School of Business
Economics
WHO WE ARE:
ADULT LEARNERS
• Graduate/Professional: 1,602
• Undergraduate: 1,527
• Total: 3,129
Percent of MU: 37%

9. 9
BUILDING THE
TASK FORCE

10. 10
BUILDING THE TASK FORCE
CHOOSING THE
DEPARTMENTS
• Academic Units
• Admissions
• Operations
• Retention
• Support Services
• Financial Planning
CHOOSING THE
REPRESENTATIVES
Remember:
Leaders are not always titled
as leaders!

11. 11
HISTORICAL DATA

12. 12
HISTORICAL DATA
5 YEAR RESEARCH
DATA SET
• Completion Rate
- Did they graduate?
• Graduation Rates by Transfer
Credit
• Cohort Progress
SCRUBBING YOUR
DATA
• Outliers
- Transients
- Certificate-Only
- Non-Degree
• Sub Populations
- First-time, Full-time

13. 13
BUILDING THE PLAN

14. 14
BUILDING THE PLAN
• Signature Issues
• Proactive Strategies
• Implementation
Timeline
• Implementation Task
List
THE PARTS

15. 15
SIGNATURE ISSUES
• Misadvising or lack
of advising
• Degree progress
planning unavailable
• Difficulty registering
for courses
Advising Issues
• Course withdrawal
charges
• Accurate & proactive
financial forecasting
• Lack of scholarship
programs
Financial Issues

16. 16
PROACTIVE STRATEGIES
• Admissions Priority
Deadline Program
• First Day Check List
• First-Time/Part-Time
Standards &
Procedures
• Orientation Videos
• First Year Student
Advising Pilot
Program
• Student Support
Services Internal
Marketing Campaign

17. 17
REACTIVE STRATEGIES
• Early Alert Program
& Software
Implementation
• Exit Surveys
• Withdrawal
Communication Plan
• Financial Assistance
Application
• Recruit-back
Communication Plan
• Social & Cultural
Enhancements

18. 18
MANAGING THE
TASK FORCE

19. 19
MANAGING THE TASK FORCE
IMPLEMENTATION
TIMELINE
• Quick Wins
• 0-3 months
• Short Term Goals
• 3-6 month
• Long Term Goals
• 6-12+ months
IMPLEMENTATION
TASK LIST
• Broad  Narrow
• DELEGATE. PERIOD.
• Task Management
• Regular meetings,
check points, & due
dates

20. 20
GOALS & ASSESSMENT

21. 21
GOALS & ASSESSMENT
METRICS
• Cohort Progress
• Graduation Rates by
Transfer Credit
• Recruit-back Goals
ANECDOTAL
• Student & Faculty
Satisfaction Surveys
• Student & Faculty Focus
Groups
• New Student Calls

22. 22
Questions ?

23. 23
Thank You