Kent State College of Business Administration Experiences Increase in Retention

KENT, Ohio - Sept. 22, 2014 - PRLog -- According to Kent State University’s Fall 2014 Enrollment Tracking Report, Kent State’s College of Business Administration reported a rise in freshmen retention.

The report revealed a 3 percent increase in fall enrollment for the first 15 days of the fall 2014 semester and a freshman retention rate of 83.8 percent. This follows the 80 percent retention the college received in the fall 2013.

“There are multiple factors attributing to the increased retention of our first year students ,” said Nicole Kotlan, academic program director. “I believe it's the result of several College of Business Administration programs and requirements we have put in place for first year students.”

Kotlan details the initiatives including; the Business Learning Community and First-Year Experience for Business course where students live together and take courses together for up to four semesters. Freshmen business students are also grouped into three linked courses including First Year Experience, Introduction to Human Communication and College Writing I as well as Exploring Business.

“Our Academic Advisors, First Year Experience (FYE) faculty and student success leaders have a big impact on the experience our freshmen have their first year,” Kotlan said. “The Academic Advisors are fantastic; they truly care about the success of their students and provide the needed assistance as part of the "Formula to Finish" to remain on track each semester. Our FYE faculty stays in touch with their students beyond the first semester from personal conversations to a quick email to check-in.”

Kotlan also attributes retention to the College of Business Administration’s Parent Listserv.

“I send messages throughout the semester updating parents on tutoring resources, required advising, scheduling dates, mid-terms, final grades and much more,” Kotlan said. “The Parent Listserv is then carried over until the end of their fourth year.”

The College of Business Administration also saw an increase in overall attendance from 3,824 students in fall 2013 to 3,947 in fall 2014.  The College of Business Administration’s undergraduate population also saw an increase of 3.4 percent.

The full Fall 2014 Enrollment Tracking Report can be found at http://www2.kent.edu/rpie/enrollment/upload/8-campus-system-fall-14-15th-day-enrollment-statistics_rpie_website.pdf