Student Retention Plan

Purpose

This plan outlines Union Centre Institute’s strategies and procedures to promote student persistence, academic success, and program completion across all hybrid educational programs. The goal is to identify, support, and retain students through proactive engagement, academic support, and timely interventions.

I. Objectives

  1. Increase overall student retention and graduation rates.

  2. Identify at-risk students early and provide timely interventions.

  3. Foster an engaging and supportive academic environment.

  4. Continuously assess and improve retention strategies based on outcomes and feedback.

II. Key Personnel Involved

  • Dean of Students – Oversees implementation and follow-up

  • Instructors – Report early warning signs and student progress

  • Admissions – Track engagement and provide support

III. Retention Strategies

1. Early Identification of At-Risk Students

  • Monitor LMS log-ins, missed assignments, and attendance in labs/virtual sessions.

  • Faculty to flag concerns such as academic struggles, disengagement, or personal issues.

2. Academic Support Services

  • Provide tutoring, lab support, and one-on-one academic coaching.

  • Offer structured remediation plans for students who fall below the minimum academic standard.

  • Encourage faculty office hours and frequent check-ins.

3. Orientation & First-Term Support

  • Deliver a robust orientation session emphasizing expectations, hybrid learning tools, and available resources.

  • Assign a faculty or staff mentor for new students in their first term.

  • Follow up with students in Weeks 2, 5, and 8 of each term to gauge satisfaction and address concerns.

4. Student Engagement and Communication

  • Maintain regular communication via email, phone, and text with students.

  • Provide interactive content and group discussions through the LMS.

  • Encourage participation in student feedback surveys and community-building activities.

5. Financial and Life Support Resources

  • Connect students with financial aid counseling, transportation resources, and flexible scheduling if life challenges arise.

  • Maintain an up-to-date list of local and online community support services (childcare, food access, mental health).

6. Faculty & Staff Development

  • Train instructors on how to spot and report early signs of disengagement.

  • Encourage inclusive teaching strategies and hybrid learning engagement best practices.

  • Discuss at annual evaluations and share electronically.

IV. Data Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Use retention data from CRM, LMS, and student feedback to evaluate trends and adjust strategies.

  • Analyze retention by program, term, and demographic to identify patterns.

  • Conduct an annual retention review and revise the plan as needed.

V. Follow-Up & Responsibility

The Dean of Students is responsible for the coordination, oversight, and evaluation of all student retention activities. A quarterly report will be submitted to institutional leadership summarizing retention metrics, interventions, and success rates.

Student Feedback Invitation

We want your feedback!
Union Centre Institute welcomes and values student feedback on this Student Retention Plan. Your input helps us strengthen our programs, services, and support systems to ensure student success.

If you have suggestions, comments, or ideas to improve this plan, please contact the Dean of Students:

All feedback will be reviewed and considered during the annual retention plan evaluation.