Past Symposia

See the 2021 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

Please read our awards blog for more in-depth information on the winners and the program for abstracts of all papers presented at the conference.

BEST PRACTICES AWARD – $2,000

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 – $1,000

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 – $750

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 – $500

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. 

CONFERENCE MATERIALS

NSSE 2021 LIVE attendees can access the conference materials, including recordings, Conference Proceedings, and more through November 2022. Click on Schedule, then enter your email address to receive a link to the site.

NSSR 2020 LIVE

See the 2020 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

Please read our awards blog for more in-depth information on the winners and the program for abstracts of all papers presented at the conference.

BEST PRACTICES AWARD – $2,000

Crafting a Culture for Student Success by Case Willoughby, Joshua Novak, Sharla Anke, Belinda Richardson, and Amy Pignatore of Butler County Community College (PA).

INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH LEADERSHIP IN STUDENT RETENTION AWARD – $1,000

Involving the Campus in Collecting Actionable Data: An Argument for Long Term Research Planning by Georgeanna Robinson and Kaitlin Wilcox of Grinnell College received the 2020 Institutional Research Leadership in Student Retention Award.

DIRECTOR’S AWARD – $750

In Their Own Words: Student Engagement as Defined by Online Learners by Jennifer F. Humber of University of Alabama .

BEST POSTER AWARD – $500

It Takes a Village to Retain a Student: Community-Based Retention by Brian Barlow, Shelly Dreadfulwater, and Sky Wildcat of Northeastern State University.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Amelia Parnell, vice president for research and policy at NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, presented Data is the Key: Using Analytics to Retain Students in Unprecedented Times. A closed caption video of his presentation is available on our YouTube page. 

CONFERENCE MATERIALS

NSSE 2020 LIVE attendees can access the conference materials, including recordings, Conference Proceedings, and more through July 2021. Click on Schedule, then enter your email address to receive a link to the site.

See the 2019 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

Please read our awards blog for more in-depth information on the winners and the program for abstracts of all papers presented at the conference.

BEST PRACTICES AWARD – $2,000<

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 – $1,000

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 – $750

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 – $500

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.

REFERENCE LIST

Recommended readings from #NSSR19 attendees.

See the 2018 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

Please read the awards press release for more in-depth information on the winners and the program for abstracts of all papers presented at the conference.

BEST PRACTICES AWARD – $2,000

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 – $1,000

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

DIRECTOR’S AWARD – $750

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 – $500

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. Here is the link to download the Dr. Shugart’s Powerpoint presentation.

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. Here is the link to download the Dr. Cuseo’s Powerpoint presentation and handouts.

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.

REGISTRATION RATES

Please see the following PDF for registration costs and related information.

See the 2017 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

Please read the awards press release for more in-depth information on the winners and the program for abstracts of all papers presented at the conference.

Best Practices Award – $2,000

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 Award – $1,000

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 – $750

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 – $500

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. Here are the links to download the Learning Strategies Inventory and Teaching Learning Strategies handouts. She has also generously made her Powerpoint presentation available.

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.

Registration Rates

Please see the following PDF for registration costs and related information.

See the 2016 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

Please read the awards press release for more in-depth information on the winners and the program for abstracts of all papers presented at the conference.

Best Practices Award – $2,000

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 – $1,000

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 – $750

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 – $500

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 and slides from her presentation are available here.

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. We have included slides.

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.

Registration Rates

Please see the following PDF for registration costs and related information.

See the 2015 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

Best Practices Award – $2,000

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 – $1,000

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

Director’s Award – $750

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 – $500

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.

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.

See the 2014 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

Best Practices Award – $2,000

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

Institutional Research Leadership in Student Retention Award – $1,000

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

Director’s Award – $750

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 – $500

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.

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.

See the 2013 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

Best Practices Award – $2,000

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 – $1,000

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 – $750

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 – $500

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.

See the 2012 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

Best Practices Award – $2,000

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 – $1,000

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 – $750

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

Best Poster Award – $500

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!

See the 2011 Program Schedule (PDF)

AWARDS

Best Practices Award – $2,000

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 – $1,000

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

Director’s Award – $750

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 – $500

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.