An Engagement Strategy is Key

To address high attrition rates start immersing at-risk students in targeted Web-based communications to keep them connected to their instructors, peers and support services.

Student Retention Doesn’t Have to Be a Challenge

Research shows that attrition rates for non-traditional students such as online learners are 10 to 20 percent higher than those of more “traditional” students. When you consider the cost of losing students (acquisition cost, tuition loss, etc.) it is clear that investing in effective retention initiatives can play a strategic role in achieving your revenue goals. It is far more cost effective to retain current students than to recruit new ones.

The ConnectEDU Student Retention Program is a fully hosted Web-based communications system that immerses students in success-oriented content, helping them negotiate common obstacles while delivering powerful real-time data to administrators. This program was developed from the ground up to meet the unique needs of non-traditional and online learners.

How the Retention Program Works

ConnectEDU's Student Retention Program is simple and effective.
1. Current students and those about to enroll for the first time get uploaded into a custom-designed, fully-hosted, simple-to-use Web program.
2. Each week students become further immersed in the tool through new informative content, interactive activities and e-communications to join and make their own.
3. As students take action—answering survey questions, requesting more information, asking to be contacted— the system triggers real-time updates from a powerful reporting center. Administrators can keep a constant pulse on the mindset of individual students.

Quick Tip 1:

Improve Retention Through Early Warning Alerts Sent to Your Inbox
A strong early warning system combined with timely intervention can improve student retention. ConnectEDU’s automated alert system helps you track students who may be at risk or who are experiencing particular issues. At a glance, your team can quickly find answers to key questions like:

• Who is struggling academically?
• Who is grappling with personal issues (such as balancing work and family)?
• Who is at risk of discontinuing their education/coursework?

Quick Tip 2:

Improve Retention by Building Communities
A recent study by Sun Microsystems found that only 25 percent of employees completed its sponsored online learning programs when they were deployed as strictly self-paced or asynchronous courses. However, three times that number completed their coursework when given the opportunity to interact through threaded discussions and other peer-to-peer and peer-to-instructor methods. ConnectEDU’s Student Retention Program focuses on daily student interaction in relevant forums and peer-to-peer relationship building to provide students the support communities that foster their success.

Quick Tip 3:

Improve Retention Through Educational Role Models
According to the University of Maryland, one of the key factors affecting online adult learner attrition is the lack of role models. Even though online students may never step foot in a classroom, they benefit personally and academically from relationships with peers and instructors just as traditional students do. ConnectEDU’s Student Retention Program connects online students with mentors through first-person perspective videos, e-communities, blogs and other interactive forums.