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While I totally agree student success starts with involved parenting, caring schools and enriching opportunities for children, it's not too late to provide innovative programs and support for college students to assist in their success and retention. Numerous research studies document that student success and retention is directly related to student engagement and connection to the school of higher education. The TRiO Student Support Services program previously mentioned on your program, is a great example of how enhanced outreach, connection and support of students increases their success and retention. Another fairly new model is life coaching. There is a company (Inside Track) that has also documented through the use of control groups that students that are provided a life coach in their first year of college to support them, assist them with study and life skills, goal setting, decision-making, encouragment, etc, have a 20-25% higher retention rate, and 20-25% higher GPA than their peers who did not have a life coach. I believe as professionals in this field we must always be open to new innovative methodologies that will support individuals of any age to be successful in the pursuit of their life dreams.

RoseAnn Kennett

TRiO-SSS Advisor

posted 2 years, 3 months ago
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