Retention

Student success directly correlates to retention. Our retention efforts focus on supporting students from all backgrounds, ensuring equity in education and fostering an inclusive campus community. We analyze different indicators that impact retention so that we can a have comprehensive understanding of the student experience. Further, students who feel supported and connected are more likely to stay involved after graduation, contributing to alumni networks and giving back to the Hope community.

Below is a list of resources, programming and topics to help faculty, staff and students understand the coordinated efforts that aim to enhance student success. Our goal is to share these resources and garner your input to improve the student experience. We believe in each student’s potential and that the right support and community can help them thrive academically and holistically.

Retention Resources

Data

• Data Resources
• 2016–2022 Retention Analysis Slide Deck
  • 2016–2022 Retention Analysis Overview
• 2023 Retention Analysis (coming April 2025)

Conversations 

Below are touch points to help you engage in conversation with students, as well as curated lists of services along with each service’s mission and contact informtion. Understanding the current season of the semester can help you and students identify common “stretch zones,” or challenging areas that can lead to growth, and how to navigate them.

• Student Support Services and Programs At a Glance
• Acronym Guide
• Yearly Flow

Student Support Initiatives

Student Support and Retention aims to not only coordinate support efforts for students at Hope College, but this team also takes active steps to improve current initiatives. We believe in going beyond standard support measures. As such, we provide robust programming to anticipate and meet student needs. Below are some of our current initiatives to help students flourish at, and beyond, Hope. 

AIR, FOCUS, SOAR
We have developed specific programs to support students holistically, including students on academic probation, and those who may need more support adjusting to the rigors of college. A coach helps refer students to resources and hold them accountable, all while establishing a personal connection to meet the student’s specific needs.

Academic Support Center (ASC)
Part of our robust services specifically aims to help students be as academically successful as possible. These services can focus on student study strategies, time management and prioritization skills. We encourage students to advocate for themselves, and we reiterate that they aren’t alone — everyone needs support at one time or another in life, and it is important to ask for help when needed.

Boerigter Center for Calling and Career
This center supports students in the next steps in their discernment and career development. Advisors and coaches will help students discover strengths, interests and values as they explore who they are called to be. Students can develop skills and enhance their perspective through experiences, both on and off campus. (Some assessment tools this office utilizes are PathwayU and CliftonStrenghts.)

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
In addition to providing counseling and crisis on-call services, the CAPS team provides individual and group therapy for students, orientation for parents, training for faculty and staff, and stress-reducing events during exam weeks.

First-Year Experience Team
This team helps students successfully transition to life at a liberal arts college by connecting students with others in a community that truly appreciates diversity and building relationships. They share strategies for learning about habits and best practices that help students succeed in the classroom.

Retention Coordination Group
Many aspects can impact retention, and this collaborative groups reviews data from multiple perspectives. Each session aims to identify and understand “gaps,” or focus areas, that could be used to improved the Hope experience.

Retention & Persistence Module/Session
Coming soon.

Summer Bridge
The Summer Bridge Program is for incoming first-year students who have received an invitation and have completed a program application. Through Summer Bridge, students will get a 2-week preview of college life and academics before orientation begins.

Departmental major/minor advising session before registration
We gather information from departments about their advising sessions for majors and minors. We send this curated information directly to students via email and post this to our Registration website every fall and spring semester. These meetings can help students understand not only the requirements of majors and minors, but opportunities available to them (like internships, career options and mentoring).

First-Year Registration & Understanding Degree Works/Requirements sessions
The Registrar’s Office and Student Support & Retention lead several presentations about registration and Anchor Plan requirements. All FYS sections are scheduled for these presentations so that no student is without this information and guidance. 

Emails to advisors
We reach out to advisors via email to check their advisees’ midterm grades in the hopes that we can identify students who need additional support and provide these resources to help them successfully finish the remainder of the semester. We also notify advisors when their advisees are on academic probation.

Emails to students not registered for the upcoming semester
We recognize that there are several potential reasons students haven’t registered for an upcoming semester. To support those who may need some guidance, the Student Support & Retention team reaches out to students via email offering supplemental help and resources. This could include helping students with class options for their remaining requirements or what office to contact regarding holds.

Emails to students registered for less than full-time status
Full-time status is achieved by taking a minimum of 12 credits. Having less than full-time status can impact financial aid, athletic eligibility and degree progress. We explain this to students and help offer appropriate class options.

Emails students of upcoming academic deadlines
Students have access to the academic calendar, but we try to help students proactively plan and reflect on the options for upcoming deadlines (including drop and add, withdrawal, registration and waitlist processing).

Educational Content

Books

• Academic Coaching: Coaching College Students for Success, Marc A. Howlett and Kristen Rademacher, Routledge, 2023
• Black Male College Student’s Mental Health: Providing Holisitic Support in Higher Education, Tryan L. McMickens and Robert T. Palmer, Routledge, 2025
• The Purpose Gap, Patrick B. Reyes, Westminster John Knox Press, 2021

Journals and Articles

• Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice (CSR) – The CSR provides the educational community, federal and state governmental officials, and the general public a medium to exhibit and explore the complex issue of student retention and attrition. Access numerous volumes of this journal via Sage Journals.
• “Have We Gotten Student Success Completely Backward?,” Aaron Basko, The Chronicle of Higher Education, edited by Brock Read, November 29, 2021
• “Efficacy of Advising Outreach on Student Retention, Academic Progress and Achievement, and Frequency of Advising Contacts: A Longitudinal Randomized Trial,” David C. Schwebel et al., NACADA Journal, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 36-43, 2012
• “Who Gets to Graduate?,” Paul Tough, The New York Times,  May 15, 2014

Media and Podcasts

• The Class — In the East Bay community of Antioch, California, six students from Deer Valley High School pursue higher education dreams amid the turmoil of a pandemic year. With exceptional passion and determination, their college adviser “Mr. Cam” empowers the seniors to overcome the challenges they face while ceaselessly fighting for their dreams of a college degree. Watch this docuseries on PBS. 
• The EdUP Experience — Elvin Freytes and Dr. Joe Sallustio, two professionals with extensive higher ed experience, interview university leaders about topics from Ed-Tech to Institutional Strategy, making dry and complicated educational topics more fun and engaging to discuss.
• Future U — Two experienced journalists and best-selling authors interview some of the most knowledgeable and compelling thought-leaders in higher ed, discussing future developments and the impact of trends on the higher ed landscape.
• The KEY Podcast — Hear candid conversations with higher ed newsmakers on how colleges and universities are coping with the pandemic and recession — with a special focus on equity and lower-income students.
• Office Hours with John Gardner — Sit in on conversations with professionals from colleges, universities, philanthropic organizations, educators and other entities about increasing institutional responsibility for improving outcomes associated with teaching, learning, retention and completion.

Websites

• Center for the Study of College Student Retention — The center provides retention resources to individuals and educational institutions. Its aim is to provide researchers and practitioners with a comprehensive resource for finding information on college student retention and attrition.
• FirstGenForward — Partnering with NASPA, FirstGen Forward fosters success for first-generation students through collaborations with higher education, philanthropy, business, government and individuals to eliminate the completion gap and broaden post-college opportunities.