Past Symposia

See the 2023 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

BEST PRACTICES AWARD

Retention Gains Through Centralizing Support for a Decentralized Outreach Model by Christine Salvesen, Jennifer Ludwig, and Sarah Kyte of University of Arizona.

INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH LEADERSHIP IN STUDENT RETENTION AWARD

Redevelopment of a Comprehensive Success Program Increases Retention and Academic Success of Students on Probation by Coryn Gonzales and Jamie White of The Ohio State University at Newark.

DIRECTOR’S AWARD 

Machine Learning for Student Success:  Early Warning Systems to Prevent Attrition by Juan Carlos Apitz, Mahmoud Albawanch, Tyler E. Nakamura, and Dhushy Sathianathan of California State University Long Beach.

BEST POSTER AWARD

Leveraging Faculty Expertise in Scaling First-Year Interest Group-based Block Scheduling by Kelly Dormer, Zak Krug, Darin Ellis, and Kurt Kruschinska of Wayne StateUniversity.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Timothy Renick, founding Executive Director of the National Institute for Student Success and Professor at Georgia State University, presented Are We the Problem? A closed caption video of his presentation is available on our YouTube page. 

Nicholas Vick, Dean of Applied Sciences and Technology at Tallahassee State College, presented What is the Definition of Insanity? A closed caption video of his presentation is available on our YouTube page. 

AWARDS

BEST PRACTICES AWARD 

Improving Retention and Graduation Rates of Academically At-Risk Students at a Research 1 University: A 10-Year Report on the Emerging Scholars Program at Case Western Reserve by Stephen E. Haynesworth, Arthur Evenchik, and Brittany Rabb of Case Western Reserve University.

INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH LEADERSHIP IN STUDENT RETENTION AWARD

Dual Enrollment, First-Year Retention, and Graduation: Analyzing the Impact of Dual Enrollment on Student Success Outcomes at a Public Research University by Michael Tucker, Jonathan Poon, and Sophie Greenwell of University of South Carolina.

DIRECTOR’S AWARD

Success Central: Using Peer Coaching to Support the Success of Residential and Commuter Students by Victoria Wallington, Reginald Simmons, Emily Cardinale, Sarah Gianetti, and Valentina Hernandez of Central Connecticut State University.

BEST POSTER AWARD 

Reimagining Retention: Maximizing the Data Impact Through Proactive Staff Intervention by Sarah Ballard, Anne Marie Bickel, and Hannah Simms of University of Kentucky.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Archie P. Cubbarubia, deputy director of Institutional Transformation at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, presented Institutional Transformation for Equitable Student Success. A closed caption video of his presentation is available on our YouTube page. 

AWARDS

BEST PRACTICES AWARD

A Case Study for the Successful Development and Assessment of a University-Wide Academic Recovery Program for First-Year Students by Daphne Holland and Deborah Conner of Coastal Carolina University, and Mary Fischer of Western Carolina University.

INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH LEADERSHIP IN STUDENT RETENTION AWARD

Data-Driven and Student-Centered: Strong Gains in First-Year Retention With the Introduction of a Warning Semester by Sarah Kyte, Laura Andrews, Jen Ludwig, and Christine Salvesen of University of Arizona.

DIRECTOR’S AWARD 

Preparing STEM Scholars for Success (PS3) Program at Florida A&M University by Maurice Edington, Desmond Stephens, Serena Roberts, Carl Moore, Codjo Akpovo, and Lewis Johnson of Florida A&M University.

BEST POSTER AWARD 

Implementation and Assessment of Two Strategic Outreach Campaigns on a Diverse Campus: Implications for Retention and Student Success by Brandy Smith and Rebecca Smith of University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Michael J. Sorrell, president of Paul Quinn College, presented Does Any of This Really Matter?: Truth, Retention, and Higher Ed in the COVID Era. A closed caption video of his presentation is available on our YouTube page. 

AWARDS

BEST PRACTICES AWARD

A Second Chance at Success: Retention Through Provisional Admissions Programs by Jordan Ryan, Catherine Nutter, and Patrick Hughes of Texas Tech University.

INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH LEADERSHIP IN STUDENT RETENTION AWARD

Predicting Minority Student Dropout Using Data Mining Techniques by J.D Jayaraman, Sue Gerber, and Julian Garcia of New Jersey City University.

DIRECTOR’S AWARD

Data Cartography at Tulane University: Mapping Your Data through a Theoretical Lens by Melissa Lang, Bert Ellison, Kelly Grant of Tulane University and John M. Braxton of Vanderbilt University.

BEST POSTER AWARD

Utilize the Summer to Reset and Revitalize Your College Experience by Amy Yearwood of Carnegie Mellon.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Timothy Renick, Senior Vice President for Student Success and Professor of Religious Studies at Georgia State University, presented Scaling Analytics and Institutional Change to Eliminate Equity Gaps. A closed caption video of his presentation is available on our YouTube page. 

José Antonio Bowen, former President of Goucher College, presented Nudges, the Learning Economy and a New 3Rs: Redesigning for Student Relationships, Resilience and Reflection. A closed caption video of his presentation is available on our YouTube page. 

GROUP EVENT

The group took a trip to see a walking history tour of the French Quarter.

AWARDS

BEST PRACTICES AWARD 

Student Engagement and Success: Action and Assessment by Peggy Whaley, Cindy Clemson, and Jeff Henry of Murray State University.

INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH LEADERSHIP IN STUDENT RETENTION AWARD 

Academic Work Ethic as an Enrollment Management Measure by Phil Moore and Marla Mamrick of the University of South Carolina.

DIRECTOR’S AWARD 

Reading Between the Retention Rates: Examining First Generation Student Transitions in the First Year by Amy Bickel of the University of Alabama.

BEST POSTER AWARD

Identifying Challenges and Improving Outcomes for First-Generation and Low-Income Student by Jimmy Jung and Veronica Garcia of New Jersey City University.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr. Sanford “Sandy” Shugart, the fourth president of Valencia College in greater Orlando, Florida, presented Building an Education Ecosystem: The Power of Better College Transfer Practices to Lead Students to Better Futures. A closed caption video of his presentation is available on our YouTube page. 

Dr. Joe Cuseo, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Marymount California University, presented Student Retention and Student Learning: A Natural Marriage. A closed caption video of his presentation is available on our YouTube page.

GROUP EVENT

The group took a trip to see a performance by the Tabernacle Choir, followed by a visit to the Natural History Museum of Utah.

AWARDS

Best Practices Award 

The Affordability Task Force: Making Campus Change Happen Through Data and Advocacy by Rory McElwee, Sean Hendricks, Penny McPherson-Myers and Alison Novak of Rowan University.

Institutional Research Leadership in Student Retention Awar

Retention and Recruitment: Using a Predictive Analytic Model to Build and Implement a Strategic Graduation and Retention Action Plan by Sherry Cox, Jeremiah McKinley and Glenn Hansen of The University of Oklahoma.

Director’s Award

Understanding Student Motivations to Inform Practice: Adopting a Multi-Methods Approach to Complex Questions by Georgeanna Robinson, Kaitlin Wilcox and Randy Stiles of Grinnell College.

Best Poster Award

The Stars in the Constellation: Results From the 2017 National Survey of the First-Year Experience by Dallin Young and Jennifer Keup of the University of South Carolina.

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Saundra Yancy McGuire, Director Emerita of the Center for Academic Success and retired Assistant Vice Chancellor and Professor of Chemistry at Louisiana State University, presented Metacognition: The Key to Increasing Retention and Graduation Rates for All Students! You can watch the closed caption video of her presentation on our YouTube page.

Group Event

Those who come every year know that we generally have an outing on Sunday. The resort was so beautiful, we decided on small, informal get-togethers on the grounds. Several of us met after lunch to go to the beach- some rode bicycles and some took the tram, all had fun. Later, we all got together for dinner.

AWARDS

Best Practices Award

CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP): Evidence from Six Cohorts and Lessons for Expansion by Diana Strumbos, Zineta Kolenovic and Alex L. Tavares of City University of New York (CUNY).

Institutional Research Leadership in Student Retention Award

Need-Based Financial Aid Strategies to Promote Student Success by Todd Brann, Bethany L. Miller and Craig Rudick of The University of Kentucky.

Director’s Award

From Data to Action: Transforming Quantitative and Qualitative Research to Community-Wide Action for Improvement in Equity Outcomes by Patricia Hulsebosch, Lindsay Buchko and Jerri Lyn Dorminy of Gallaudet University.

Best Poster Award

FLASHperks Rewards Program by Kristan Dolan and Katie Goldring of Kent State University.

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Laurie Schreiner, Professor and Chair of the Department of Higher Education at Azusa Pacific University, presented Beyond Grades and Graduation:Thriving as a Retention Strategy. We have linked a closed caption video of her presentation is available on our YouTube page. 

Dr. Jillian Kinzie, Associate Director of the Center for Postsecondary Research and the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Institute at the Indiana University School of Education spoke on Student Success in Colleges & Universities: Advancing Know-What and Know-How. Video of her presentation is available on our YouTube page. 

Group Event

We spent Sunday in Colonial Williamsburg, the world’s largest living history museum, where costumed interpreters told us the stories of the 18th-century capital of Britain’s wealthiest New World colony. Participants traveled both ways via chartered bus.

AWARDS

Best Practices Award

Third-Semester Retention Success: Lehman College’s Freshman Year Initiative Program by Steven Wyckoff & Zenaida Bough of Lehman College-CUNY.

Institutional Research Leadership in Student Retention Award

Student Support Interventions and Predictive Analytics by Diane Beaudoin, Maggie Konich, Monal Patel, & Xi (Cecilia) Zhang of Purdue University.

Director’s Award

Transfer Pathway Program: Building a Bridge from the Community College to the University by Jennifer Brown, Nicole Iwasaki, & Melissa Jones of University of Hawai’I Manoa.

Best Poster Award

Transfer Pathway Program: Building a Bridge from the Community College to the University by Jennifer Brown, Nicole Iwasaki, & Melissa Jones of University of Hawai’I Manoa.

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Terrell Strayhorn, Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Center for Higher Education Enterprise at The Ohio State University. See a video of his presentation, Becoming Cultural Navigators in Higher Education, on our YouTube page. 

Group Event

We took a chartered bus to the world’s most authentic space attraction and working spaceflight facility, the Kennedy Space Center, for an unforgettable visit.

AWARDS

Best Practices Award

Rethinking and Accelerating Developmental Courses: A New Approach to Retention by Linda Refsland of William Paterson University.

Institutional Research Leadership in Student Retention Award

Academic Performance, Engagement and Extrinsic Rewards by Carina Beck, Tonya Lauriski-Karriker, Erin McCormick, & Jacob Jenks of Montana State University.

Director’s Award

Working with Probationary Students: Successful Pedagogical Strategies and Techniques by Gina Beyer, James Lewis, Ken Miller, & Ginny Saiki of Arizona State University.

Best Poster Award

Mandatory Supplemental Instruction in Fundamentals of Algebra: A Program to Promote Student Success in Developmental Mathematics by James Yard of Delaware Valley College.

Keynote Speaker

President Tim Hall, President of Mercy College. See a video of his presentation, Creating a Campus Culture for Student Success, on our YouTube page. 

Group Event

Leaving our downtown hotel early for breakfast on the backstretch at Churchill Downs, we watched the horses’ morning workouts & toured the Kentucky Derby Museum.

AWARDS

Best Practices Award

Improving Outcomes through the 4 Ps of Student Retention Frameworks by David H. Kalsbeek and Carla M. Corte of DePaul University.

Institutional Research Leadership in Student Retention Award 

High-Impact Educational Practices as Promoting Student Retention and Success by Sunny Moon, Edward Sullivan, James Hershey, Sean Walker, Martin Bosangue, Mark Filowitz, Cathy Fernandez, Raman
Unnikrishnan, & Victor Delgado of California State University, Fullerton.

Director’s Award 

Transfer Pathway Program: Building a Bridge from the Community College to the University by Jennifer Brown, Nicole Iwasaki, & Melissa Jones of University of Hawai’I Manoa.

Best Poster Award 

Retention and Recovery of Fully Online Students at Drexel University by Valerie Delleville of Drexel University.

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Peter Ewell, Vice President of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS).

Group Event

We spent Sunday afternoon socializing with colleagues and enjoying the beautiful San Diego Zoo.

AWARDS

Best Practices Award 

Celebrating Our Silver Anniversary: Lessons Learned from 25 Years of Freshman Studies at Seton Hall University by Agnes Hooper Gottlieb of Seton Hall University.

Institutional Research Leadership in Student Retention Award –

Using Self-Regulated Learning Methods to Increase Native American College Retention by David Patterson, Kelly Ahuna, Christine Tinnesz, & Carol VanZile-Tamsen of University of Buffalo.

Director’s Award 

Approaches to Serving Under-Resourced, Undergraduate Adult Student Populations by Shirley Warkentin of Fresno Pacific University.

Best Poster Award 

Kudos and Warnings: Managing 55,000+ Flag Notifications to Support Student Success by Jayne Geissler, John Trifilo, Elizabeth Coghill, & Steven Asby of East Carolina University.

Keynote Speaker

Dr. George D. Kuh, Director of the National Institute of Learning Outcomes Assessment and of the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP).

Group Event

A chartered bus carried us from the French Quarter to the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary for an airboat Swamp Tour where we enjoyed the surroundings while watching wildlife in their natural habitat. We even got to hold a baby alligator!

AWARDS

Best Practices Award 

Supplemental Instruction: A Proven Tool for Improving Student Performance and Retention by Fiona Brantley and Ralph J. Rascati of Kennesaw State University.

Institutional Research Leadership in Student Retention Award 

Rethinking At-Risk by Jacob Pleitz, Robert Terry, Nicole Judice Campbell and Dustin Fife of The University of Oklahoma.

Director’s Award 

Early Identification and Intervention Influences the Success of First-year “At Risk” Science Students by Susan Bertram, John Nelson and Laksanavedee Visanuvimol of Carleton University.

Best Poster Award 

How Does the Change of Financial Aids After the First Academic Year Affect Retention and Graduation? The Case of CSUCI by Dai Li of California State University – Channel Islands.

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Betsy Barefoot, Vice President for the John N. Garner Institute.

Group Event

About 50 of us got to know each other over refreshments on a sunset sail around Charleston Harbor aboard the Schooner Pride.