CWU Retention On The Rise

November 10, 2003

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-- Central Washington University senior Tricia Rabel just concluded one of her busiest weeks of fall quarter. Not just because of academics. Much of her time was spent preparing for and staging various homecoming events, and she found the hard work was worth every minute.

"I just love getting involved in these types of activities," Rabel explains. "Not only does it provide for a great social outlet, but it (getting involved) provides leadership opportunities you wouldn't otherwise have."

Rabel hasn't always felt this enthusiastic about her university experience. In fact, she considered transferring during her first days at Central a few years ago. Her experiences in the residence halls quickly convinced her to stay.

"I thought, because it's a smaller school and Ellensburg is a smaller town, there would be nothing to do. I was pleasantly surprised!" Rabel recalls. "There's a lot more to do than you think; everything from movie nights to programming events in the halls, and there's such a feeling of community at this university, it's unbelievable. There's always someone to talk to and someone to offer help. It's very easy the way they have it laid out."

Thanks to a comprehensive retention plan under the direction of Charlotte Tullos, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, jittery newcomers such as Rabel are coming to Central and staying.

"We have an incredible desire to keep the students we get and to help them become successful," Tullos says. "We've created a campuswide, systematic program that involves a lot of people and demands an all-out effort to make the students feel comfortable and enjoy their time at Central."

Bob Trumpy, senior director of health counseling and wellness services and chair of the retention action team, explains the program's goal is to reach 80 percent retention among first-year freshman by 2006. Central is well on its way toward reaching that goal, considering the campaign began in 2000 when retention sat at 72.5 percent. "We're now at 76.2 percent," Trumpy notes. "We've improved by four percent during the last three years, that's outstanding!"

Trumpy points to several initiatives that appear to be affecting this surge in retention. For one, Central is admitting better-prepared students. The university is also offering a first-year experience class known as UNIV 101, and it is conducting a survey of incoming freshmen during summer orientation, following with assertive contacts, particularly for students identified as at-risk through the survey. "The very active stance of the university, particularly with students who are prone to giving up and dropping out, is quite remarkable," Trumpy asserts.

Stacy Klippentsein, director of university housing and new student programs, points to additional projects such as the fun-filled Wildcat Welcome Weekend and a six-week program known as Wildcat Connections.

"This combination of summer orientation, initiatives that target at-risk students, the Welcome Weekend, and Wildcat Connections is quite unique," Klippenstein explains. "Not many schools out there do all of these things in such a coordinated manner."

Central's Living and Learning Communities is another retention initiative designed to connect students with other students and faculty in specific academic interests outside the classroom. Rabel thinks this program is key to Central's success.

"If you're into art, they hook you up with other students with the same interests," she says. "You're given a path to find friends and people who understand your same interests and concerns."

Rabel says Central's retention efforts helped her tremendously and are appreciated by the rest of the student body as well. "There's no question the students are responding," she affirms. "When I first came here, people would take off for the weekends. Now they're sticking around and hanging out with new friends and going to fun events. There's a lot more excitement now than before, a lot more spirit and pride in being a Central student. People are becoming more involved."

Rabel's busy life is testimony; she just concluded one of the busiest weeks of the quarter, and that was in addition to her classes and homework.