consequences of student retention strategies : a case study at metropolitan college

Abstract

College and university retention research indicates that institutional financial concerns, student behaviors, and organizational ethics all play a role in how educational officials make retentionbased strategy decisions. However, gaps in the literature exist involving the interconnection between the acknowledgement of an enrollment issue, the corresponding creation of retention strategies, and the resulting comprehensive campus environment post-strategy implementation.This research study explored the impact of institutional retention strategies at one particular MidAtlantic college during a period of enrollment instability from 2010 through 2014. Specifically, this study reviewed the unintended consequences that developed as a result of the broad retention tactics used during this five-year period. Further, this research study investigated whether or not institutional values and/or operational interests were truly accounted for when designing and implementing these retention strategies. The researcher noted that these retention strategies contributed to secondary issues, which, in turn, may have undermined the institution's original retention objectives. By investigating the comprehensive impact of institutional retention strategy implementation, this study produced information that can be used at other colleges and universities when contemplating retention initiatives and best practices.