The study presents detailed data and commentary from 33 retention administrators at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The report helps its readers to answer questions such as: how have colleges and universities adjusted their retention strategies to cope with the pandemic? What percentage of students do they expect not to return in the next year as a result of the pandemic? What will be the impact on first-year students plans? How has the pandemic impacted particular groups of students such as international students? Distance learning students? Students from low-income backgrounds? Disabled students? What efforts have been made to address their safety, financial and other concerns? What adjustments have been made to counselling, financial aid, academic advising, mental health, tutoring, and other student services to limit retention losses? What is planned for the near future? What have been the most successful measures already adopted?
Just a few of the 126-page report’s many findings are that:
- More than 37% of colleges sampled have provided financial aid to students in distress due to the pandemic.
- 23% of institutions sampled have developed new online or other programs to help retain international students.
- 20% of respondents felt that adjusting the terms of student loans was an effective or highly effective way to help retain students during the epidemic.
Data in the page report is broken out by size and type of institution, by tuition level, for public and private institutions, and enrolment level.
Table of Contents
1. THE QUESTIONNAIRE
2. PARTICIPANTS LIST
- Characteristics of the Sample
3. SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS
- Assessment of the impact of coronavirus epidemic on student retention
- Addressing coronavirus-related student retention issues
- Hiring a consultant
- Forming a task force
- Institutional research
- New online or other programs for retention of international students
- Reducing tuition, extending loans, or other financial help
- Percentage of students who will not return for fall semester 2020
- Impact of coronavirus on retention of different students
- Impact of coronavirus on retention of graduate students
- Impact of coronavirus on retention of distance/ hybrid learning students
- Impact of coronavirus on retention of foreign students
- Impact of coronavirus on students over age 30
- Impact of coronavirus on low-income students
- Impact of coronavirus on students with disability
- Impact of coronavirus on student athletes
- Most successful policies for retaining students affected by the coronavirus
- Change in requests to transfer
- Adjustments effective in combating loss of students
- Adjusting terms of student loans
- Adjusting grading paradigms
- Adjusting the provision of student jobs
- Helping students adjust to online instruction
- Adjusting online tutoring services
- Developing virtual internships
- Fostering involvement in virtual student clubs and associations
- Developing virtual counselling and academic advising
- Interviewing at-risk students
- Efforts to reach out and help students
- Change in tutoring services
- Change in psychological counselling services
- Change in academic advising services
- Provisions for on-campus student jobs for fall 2020
- Developing virtual internships for students
- Change in financial aid policies
- We asked the question: As a result of the coronavirus epidemic financial aid policies at your institutions have become more or less generous?
- Personal feelings about tuition and financial situation
- Expectations for the rate of retention of students entering the second year
- Percentage of students unable to learn online
- Convincing students that they will be safe
- How has your institution assessed the impact on student retention of the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
List of Tables
Table 1 Which of the following has your institution done to address coronavirus-related student retention issues?
Table 1.1.1 Has your institution hired a consultant to address coronavirus-related student retention issues?
Table 1.2.1 Has your institution formed a task force to address coronavirus-related student retention issues?
Table 1.2.2 Has your institution formed a task force to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by your college is:
Table 1.2.3 Has your institution formed a task force to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by enrollment
Table 1.2.4 Has your institution formed a task force to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 1.2.5 Has your institution formed a task force to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 1.3.1 Has your institution engaged Institutional research to study distance learning and retention to address coronavirus-related student retention issues?
Table 1.3.2 Has your institution engaged Institutional research to study distance learning and retention to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by your college is:
Table 1.3.3 Has your institution engaged Institutional research to study distance learning and retention to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by enrollment
Table 1.3.4 Has your institution engaged Institutional research to study distance learning and retention to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 1.3.5 Has your institution engaged Institutional research to study distance learning and retention to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 1.4.1 Has your institution developed new online or other programs to retain international students to address coronavirus-related student retention issues?
Table 1.4.2 Has your institution developed new online or other programs to retain international students to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by your college is:
Table 1.4.3 Has your institution developed new online or other programs to retain international students to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by enrollment
Table 1.4.4 Has your institution developed new online or other programs to retain international students to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 1.4.5 Has your institution developed new online or other programs to retain international students to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 1.5.1 Has your institution reduced tuition, extended loans, or provided other financial help to lower-income students to address coronavirus-related student retention issues?
Table 1.5.2 Has your institution reduced tuition, extended loans, or provided other financial help to lower-income students to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by your college is:
Table 1.5.3 Has your institution reduced tuition, extended loans, or provided other financial help to lower-income students to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by enrollment
Table 1.5.4 Has your institution reduced tuition, extended loans, or provided other financial help to lower-income students to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 1.5.5 Has your institution reduced tuition, extended loans, or provided other financial help to lower-income students to address coronavirus-related student retention issues? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 2.1 What percentage of your students do you feel will not return for the fall semester 2020 as a result of the coronavirus epidemic?
Table 2.2 What percentage of your students do you feel will not return for the fall semester 2020 as a result of the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by your college is:
Table 2.3 What percentage of your students do you feel will not return for the fall semester 2020 as a result of the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by enrollment
Table 2.4 What percentage of your students do you feel will not return for the fall semester 2020 as a result of the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 2.5 What percentage of your students do you feel will not return for the fall semester 2020 as a result of the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 3 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for each of the following types of student?
Table 3.1.1 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for graduate students?
Table 3.1.2 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for graduate students? Broken out by your college is:
Table 3.1.3 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for graduate students? Broken out by enrollment
Table 3.1.4 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for graduate students? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 3.1.5 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for graduate students? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 3.2.1 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for distance learning/hybrid learning students?
Table 3.2.2 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for distance learning/hybrid learning students? Broken out by your college is:
Table 3.2.3 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for distance learning/hybrid learning students? Broken out by enrollment
Table 3.2.4 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for distance learning/hybrid learning students? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 3.2.5 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for distance learning/hybrid learning students? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 3.3.1 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for foreign students?
Table 3.3.2 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for foreign students? Broken out by your college is:
Table 3.3.3 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for foreign students? Broken out by enrollment
Table 3.3.4 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for foreign students? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 3.3.5 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for foreign students? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 3.4.1 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for adult students over age 30 ?
Table 3.4.2 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for adult students over age 30? Broken out by your college is:
Table 3.4.3 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for adult students over age 30? Broken out by enrollment
Table 3.4.4 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for adult students over age 30? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 3.4.5 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for adult students over age 30? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 3.5.1 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for low-income students?
Table 3.5.2 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for low-income students? Broken out by your college is:
Table 3.5.3 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for low-income students? Broken out by enrollment
Table 3.5.4 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for low-income students? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 3.5.5 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for low-income students? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 3.6.1 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for students with a disability?
Table 3.6.2 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for students with a disability? Broken out by your college is:
Table 3.6.3 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for students with a disability? Broken out by enrollment
Table 3.6.4 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for students with a disability? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 3.6.5 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for students with a disability? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 3.7.1 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for student athletes?
Table 3.7.2 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for student athletes? Broken out by your college is:
Table 3.7.3 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for student athletes? Broken out by enrollment
Table 3.7.4 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for student athletes? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 3.7.5 What do you feel will be the impact on retention of the coronavirus epidemic for student athletes? Broken out by tuition, $
Thus far what have been your most successful moves and policies to retain students impacted by the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 4.1 Compared to early May 2019, requests to transfer into your college, have done which of the following?
Table 4.2 Compared to early May 2019, requests to transfer into your college, have done which of the following? Broken out by your college is:
Table 4.3 Compared to early May 2019, requests to transfer into your college, have done which of the following? Broken out by enrollment
Table 4.4 Compared to early May 2019, requests to transfer into your college, have done which of the following? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 4.5 Compared to early May 2019, requests to transfer into your college, have done which of the following? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5 Which of the following have you been most able to adjust effectively to combat loss of students due to the coronavirus epidemic
Table 5.1.1 have you been able to adjust the terms of student loans to combat student loss due to the coronavirus?
Table 5.1.2 have you been able to adjust the terms of student loans to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by your college is:
Table 5.1.3 have you been able to adjust the terms of student loans to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.1.4 have you been able to adjust the terms of student loans to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 5.1.5 have you been able to adjust the terms of student loans to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.2.1 have you been able to adjust the grading paradigms in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus?
Table 5.2.2 have you been able to adjust the grading paradigms in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by your college is:
Table 5.2.3 have you been able to adjust the grading paradigms in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.2.4 have you been able to adjust the grading paradigms in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 5.2.5 have you been able to adjust the grading paradigms in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.3.1 have you been able to adjust the provision of student jobs in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus?
Table 5.3.2 have you been able to adjust the provision of student jobs in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by your college is:
Table 5.3.3 have you been able to adjust the provision of student jobs in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.3.4 have you been able to adjust the provision of student jobs in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 5.3.5 have you been able to adjust the provision of student jobs in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.4.1 Have helping students adjust to online instruction been the most able to adjust effectively to combat loss of students due to the coronavirus epidemic?
Table 5.4.2 have you been able to adjust online instruction in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by your college is:
Table 5.4.3 have you been able to adjust online instruction in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.4.4 have you been able to adjust online instruction in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 5.4.5 have you been able to adjust online instruction in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.5.1 have you been able to adjust your tutoring program in order to combat loss of students due to the coronavirus epidemic?
Table 5.5.2 have you been able to adjust your tutoring program in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by your college is:
Table 5.5.3 have you been able to adjust your tutoring program in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.5.4 have you been able to adjust your tutoring program in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 5.5.5 have you been able to adjust your tutoring program in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.6.1 Have developing virtual internships been the most able to adjust effectively to combat loss of students due to the coronavirus epidemic?
Table 5.6.2 have you been able to develop or adjust virtual internships in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by your college is:
Table 5.6.3 have you been able to develop or adjust virtual internships in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.6.4 have you been able to develop or adjust virtual internships in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 5.6.5 have you been able to develop or adjust virtual internships in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.7.1 Have fostering involvement in virtual student clubs and associations been the most able to adjust effectively to combat loss of students due to the coronavirus epidemic?
Table 5.7.2 Have you been able to foster involvement in student organizations in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by your college is:
Table 5.7.3 Have you been able to foster involvement in student organizations in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.7.4 Have you been able to foster involvement in student organizations in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 5.7.5 Have you been able to foster involvement in student organizations in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.8.1 Have developing virtual counseling and academic advising been the most able to adjust effectively to combat loss of students due to the coronavirus epidemic?
Table 5.8.2 Have you been able to develop virtual counseling and academic advising in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by your college is:
Table 5.8.3 Have you been able to develop virtual counseling and academic advising in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.8.4 Have you been able to develop virtual counseling and academic advising in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 5.8.5 Have you been able to develop virtual counseling and academic advising in order to combat student loss due to the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 6.1 Has your staff, institutional research or others interviewed a sample of at-risk students at your institution after the inception of the coronavirus?
Table 6.2 Has your staff, institutional research or others interviewed a sample of at-risk students at your institution after the inception of the coronavirus? Broken out by your college is:
Table 6.3 Has your staff, institutional research or others interviewed a sample of at-risk students at your institution after the inception of the coronavirus? Broken out by enrollment
Table 6.4 Has your staff, institutional research or others interviewed a sample of at-risk students at your institution after the inception of the coronavirus? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 6.5 Has your staff, institutional research or others interviewed a sample of at-risk students at your institution after the inception of the coronavirus? Broken out by tuition, $
If so, what have you learned from these interviews? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 7.1 Evaluate your colleges’ special efforts to reach out to and help students at higher risk for dropping out due to the coronavirus epidemic.
Table 7.2 Evaluate your colleges’ special efforts to reach out to and help students at higher risk for dropping out due to the coronavirus epidemic. Broken out by your college is:
Table 7.3 Evaluate your colleges’ special efforts to reach out to and help students at higher risk for dropping out due to the coronavirus epidemic. Broken out by enrollment
Table 7.4 Evaluate your colleges’ special efforts to reach out to and help students at higher risk for dropping out due to the coronavirus epidemic. Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 7.5 Evaluate your colleges’ special efforts to reach out to and help students at higher risk for dropping out due to the coronavirus epidemic. Broken out by tuition, $
Table 8.1 To the best of your knowledge your college's tutoring services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic?
Table 8.2 To the best of your knowledge your college's tutoring services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by your college is:
Table 8.3 To the best of your knowledge your college's tutoring services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by enrollment
Table 8.4 To the best of your knowledge your college's tutoring services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 8.5 To the best of your knowledge your college's tutoring services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 9.1 To the best of your knowledge your college's psychological counseling services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic?
Table 9.2 To the best of your knowledge your college's psychological counseling services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by your college is:
Table 9.3 To the best of your knowledge your college's psychological counseling services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by enrollment
Table 9.4 To the best of your knowledge your college's psychological counseling services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 9.5 To the best of your knowledge your college's psychological counseling services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 10.1 To the best of your knowledge your college's academic advising services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic?
Table 10.2 To the best of your knowledge your college's academic advising services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by your college is:
Table 10.3 To the best of your knowledge your college's academic advising services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by enrollment
Table 10.4 To the best of your knowledge your college's academic advising services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 10.5 To the best of your knowledge your college's academic advising services are currently reaching as many, fewer or more students than before the epidemic? Broken out by tuition, $
What provisions is your institution making for providing on campus student jobs for the fall semester 2020? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Has your institution been able to develop virtual internships for students? If so, give some examples. Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 11.1 As a result of the coronavirus epidemic financial aid policies at your institutions has become more or less generous?
Table 11.2 As a result of the coronavirus epidemic financial aid policies at your institutions has become more or less generous? Broken out by your college is:
Table 11.3 As a result of the coronavirus epidemic financial aid policies at your institutions has become more or less generous? Broken out by enrollment
Table 11.4 As a result of the coronavirus epidemic financial aid policies at your institutions has become more or less generous? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 11.5 As a result of the coronavirus epidemic financial aid policies at your institutions has become more or less generous? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 12.1 My personal feeling about tuition levels and the financial situation of our student body given the coronavirus epidemic is that:
Table 12.2 My personal feeling about tuition levels and the financial situation of our student body given the coronavirus epidemic is that: Broken out by your college is:
Table 12.3 My personal feeling about tuition levels and the financial situation of our student body given the coronavirus epidemic is that: Broken out by enrollment
Table 12.4 My personal feeling about tuition levels and the financial situation of our student body given the coronavirus epidemic is that: Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 12.5 My personal feeling about tuition levels and the financial situation of our student body given the coronavirus epidemic is that: Broken out by tuition, $
Table 13.1 You expect that as a result of the coronavirus epidemic the college's retention rate for first year students entering the second year will increase (retaining more students) or decrease (retaining fewer students)?
Table 13.2 You expect that as a result of the coronavirus epidemic the college's retention rate for first year students entering the second year will increase (retaining more students) or decrease (retaining fewer students)? Broken out by your college is:
Table 13.3 You expect that as a result of the coronavirus epidemic the college's retention rate for first year students entering the second year will increase (retaining more students) or decrease (retaining fewer students)? Broken out by enrollment
Table 13.4 You expect that as a result of the coronavirus epidemic the college's retention rate for first year students entering the second year will increase (retaining more students) or decrease (retaining fewer students)? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 13.5 You expect that as a result of the coronavirus epidemic the college's retention rate for first year students entering the second year will increase (retaining more students) or decrease (retaining fewer students)? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 14.1 About what percentage of your students would you say are ill-prepared or unable to learn online effectively?
Table 14.2 About what percentage of your students would you say are ill-prepared or unable to learn online effectively? Broken out by your college is:
Table 14.3 About what percentage of your students would you say are ill-prepared or unable to learn online effectively? Broken out by enrollment
Table 14.4 About what percentage of your students would you say are ill-prepared or unable to learn online effectively? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 14.5 About what percentage of your students would you say are ill-prepared or unable to learn online effectively? Broken out by tuition, $
How will you go about convincing students that they will be safe if they return to campus in September or earlier? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
What advice can you offer to your peers on now to retain students who have been adversely impacted by the coronavirus epidemic? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Samples
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Sources / Contributors
- Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
- Clarke University
- Columbus State Community College
- Concordia University, St. Paul
- CSUSM
- Cumberland University
- Duquesne University
- Eastern New Mexico University
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Indiana University East
- Jamestown Community College
- KGI
- Marquette University
- McGill University
- Meredith College
- Metropolitan State University
- Missouri Western State University
- Northern Michigan University
- Oakwood University
- Pima CC
- Point Park University
- Prescott College
- Saint Joseph's University
- St. Mary's College of Maryland
- Tarleton State University
- Tennessee State University
- University of Dayton
- University of New Haven
- University of Puget Sound
- UW-Platteville
- Walsh University
- Washburn University
- Wesley College
Methodology
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