By The Rev. Tom Doyle, C.S.C.
This past summer, the officers of the University gathered for two days and we asked ourselves the question, "What are the hallmarks of a great Catholic university?"
Among several tangible and intangible qualities identified, we agreed that a great Catholic university identifies talented students who "fit" with the institution, encourages and entices those students to enroll and provides the best possible education and formation to see them graduate and go forth to enrich the world.
In other words, we retain the students who we work so hard to bring here.
Our overall rates of retention are slightly below our peer institutions. We believe we can do better.
Recognizing that, behind each statistic is a unique person, we want to understand the causes behind individual student departures.
Then, we want to adjust and create systems and culture that increase the probability that a student who might potentially depart will stay to complete their undergraduate education.
The University's annual retention rate stands at just over 85 percent, meaning that 15 percent, or roughly 120, of the August 2007 first-year freshmen students (class of 2012) are not enrolled here today.
There are many reasons a student chooses not to continue here at UP. They may have financial or familial challenges, concerns about health, or perhaps their academic or social experience of college hasn't been what they had expected.
Some students are slow to make the full transition into the demands of university life.
Whatever the reason, we recognize that premature separation is difficult for the individual, creates pressure within his or her family, as well as ripple effects within the community, and it has an economic impact on the institution.
A student is admitted to the University of Portland only if he or she possesses, by multiple measures, a high likelihood of success.
We feel that we have a duty to put students in the best possible academic, physical, emotional, communal and spiritual position to flourish and finish.
Last fall, the Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., appointed a Student Retention Task Force, chaired by College of Arts & Sciences Dean, the Rev. Stephen Rowan, C.S.C., to identify ways to increase retention, keeping in particular mind the possible economic anxieties facing current and prospective students, and their families.
The committee has been charged with developing strategies to increase our first year retention rate to 90 percent, an approximate annual increase of about 40 students. They have focused study in three areas: academics, financial aid, and campus culture.
The task force needs as much candid input from faculty, staff and students as possible.
That said, I am encouraging you to attend an open forum in St. Mary's Student Center on Monday, February, 16th. Faculty and Staff are invited from 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and the student session will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The meetings will provide the entire campus community the opportunity to offer suggestions about ways to encourage students, especially freshmen, to persist at the University until graduation.
And to sustain your minds and hearts for the discussion, of course there will be pizza.
?The Rev. Tom Doyle, C.S.C. is executive vice president of the University
