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Do We Have a Retention Problem ... Or Do We Have a Problem 'about' Retention?

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Title: Do We Have a Retention Problem ... Or Do We Have a Problem 'about' Retention?
Language: English
Authors: Butler, Lawrence
Source: New England Journal of Higher Education. Aug 2011.
Availability: New England Board of Higher Education. 45 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111. Tel: 617-357-9620; Fax: 617-338-1577; e-mail: info@nebhe.org; Web site: http://www.nebhe.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Physical Description: PDF
Publication Date: 2011
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Descriptors: Higher Education, School Holding Power, Student Attrition, Academic Persistence, Attitude Change, Problem Solving, Context Effect, At Risk Students, Student School Relationship, College Students
ISSN: 1938-5978
Abstract: This paper deals with the "problem" of student retention in higher education. But unlike most, this paper focuses not on the problem of retention "per se" but rather on how institutional leaders think about student retention, completion, and success--how the way they frame their concerns about retention can give rise to a different sort of problem. Something one might call the "meta-problem" of student retention. Before exploring the meta-problem, it is important to acknowledge that there are any number of very valid, practical problems--from tracking at-risk students to providing requisite remediation and counseling services to addressing on-campus alcohol abuse--that need to be addressed to ensure that students achieve all that they are capable of achieving in their college careers. In this article, the author suggests to shift one's focus, from one's usual preoccupation with finding solutions to the retention problems to reframing the retention problem one wishes to solve. One can do this by reassessing the strategic significance of student attrition and mitigating its institutional impact. (Contains 2 figures.)
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2011
Access URL: https://www.nebhe.org/thejournal/do-we-have-a-retention-problem-%e2%80%a6-or-do-we-have-a-problem-about-retention/
Accession Number: EJ940788
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Do We Have a Retention Problem ... Or Do We Have a Problem 'about' Retention?
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  Data: This paper deals with the "problem" of student retention in higher education. But unlike most, this paper focuses not on the problem of retention "per se" but rather on how institutional leaders think about student retention, completion, and success--how the way they frame their concerns about retention can give rise to a different sort of problem. Something one might call the "meta-problem" of student retention. Before exploring the meta-problem, it is important to acknowledge that there are any number of very valid, practical problems--from tracking at-risk students to providing requisite remediation and counseling services to addressing on-campus alcohol abuse--that need to be addressed to ensure that students achieve all that they are capable of achieving in their college careers. In this article, the author suggests to shift one's focus, from one's usual preoccupation with finding solutions to the retention problems to reframing the retention problem one wishes to solve. One can do this by reassessing the strategic significance of student attrition and mitigating its institutional impact. (Contains 2 figures.)
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      – Text: English
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Holding Power
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attrition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Persistence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attitude Change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Problem Solving
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Context Effect
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: At Risk Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student School Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Do We Have a Retention Problem ... Or Do We Have a Problem 'about' Retention?
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              Type: published
              Y: 2011
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