Roanoke College’s rate of retention for the Fall 2024 freshman cohort was 81%, a figure that is both higher than the national average and higher than the college’s own rate has been in nearly a decade.
That improvement can be traced to the work of staff and faculty across the college, and particularly to the Student Success Division, which has been cultivating resources and initiatives to help students be successful and secure during their time at Roanoke, academically and otherwise. These efforts align with several imperatives from the college's strategic plan, including placing emphasis on exploration of purpose, prioritizing the development of learners, and building an environment that fosters professional growth and supports every member of the college community.
“The Student Success Division was created to focus on providing support for students so that they can be successful in their academic, professional and personal pursuits,” said Jay Ellison, vice president for student success and the Roanoke experience. “When we create a student-ready, student-first culture, our students will be successful. And when they are successful, they will persist.”
Data on the retention rate comes from the freshman class each year and is measured from the fall of their freshman year to the fall of their sophomore year. The national retention rate for the cohort of students entering in Fall 2023 was around 69.5% and has remained relatively stable, according to information from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
One strategy that is bearing fruit is the creation of a new position in Student Success, the assistant dean of students for student success strategies. That position is now held by Tony Ryals, who holds an Ed.D. in educational leadership and administration. With the addition of Ryals to the team, there is a person on campus who is dedicated to understanding why students might choose to leave and what resources can be deployed to help them persist at the college. Ryals has worked closely with Dani Moore, director of strategic student success, and together they have made several changes that are data-driven, strategic, intentional and, most importantly, collaborative.
“This work wouldn’t have been done without collaboration across campus with colleagues, and we have been met with nothing but support from them."
Dani Moore, director of strategic student success
Ryals and Moore created the Retention Task Force, where representatives from across campus come together and share ideas. This aligns with the recognition that student success is really an “everyone job,” as Ryals said.
“This work wouldn’t have been done without collaboration across campus with colleagues, and we have been met with nothing but support from them," said Moore.
If a student is struggling, Ryals and Moore want to be there to listen and help find solutions. They have prioritized initiatives that ensure each student feels connected to the campus community and can find their place, academically and socially. Programming from the Office of Student Engagement, particularly in the first six weeks of the school year, is incredibly helpful, Moore said.
“It’s the intentionality between everybody—Student Success, Academic Affairs, athletics, building and grounds, our staff who work in the Commons—to create this sense of belonging for each and every student that steps on campus,” said Ryals.
An example of a successful initiative can be seen in an event hosted last year by Shannon McNeal, director for the student success center. This event was a forum for strategic academic advising where students could adjust their schedules and learn about the resources available to them. That event was held before the drop period ended, so it was another important factor in the increased retention rate, Moore said.
Advising is another area that they believe will contribute significantly to an increase in student success and persistence. With the relatively recent addition of academic coaches and advisors—dedicated staff members for student advising—a “huge gap” has been filled, Moore said. Having all of these factors in place, she and Ryals are very confident in the student persistence and the retention rate going forward.
“I truly believe that hiring our professional academic coaches and advisors will continue to drive us to see a higher retention,” Moore said, “because they are constantly giving strategic, intentional and personalized academic advising to these students."