Student retention impacts 2018 enrollment efforts

Students participate in fall 2018 Huskies First Four days events. St. Cloud State welcomed 2,669 new first-year, transfer and graduate students to campus this in September. Photo by Anna Kurth

With an increase in student retention, St. Cloud State University welcomed 13,467 students from more than 90 countries to campus this fall.

“Our students are increasingly successful in the classroom and are graduating sooner, which means more experience gainful employment faster,” said Interim Provost Dan Gregory. “I am extremely proud of the dedication of faculty and staff at St. Cloud State who have continued to support SCSU, our students, and the surrounding community. I appreciate your continued commitment to excellence.”

According to the 30^th day enrollment report, retention of first-time, full-time students is up 5.2 percentage points to 71.7%, which is the highest since 2013. The 4-year graduation rate is the second highest since 1999 (the highest was 2017). Five-year graduation rates are also up to 41.5%.

These increases did not happen by accident, said President Robbyn Wacker. They are the result of investments in new initiatives like the Student Success Collaborative and the dedication of university employees.

Overall enrollment is tracking within the university’s budget contingency for fiscal year 2019.

Building upon work that began in the spring, the university has organized a new division of Strategic Enrollment Management to provide the leadership for our future enrollment efforts. Under the new division, strategic enrollment management will be a comprehensive approach to integrating the university’s structure, programs, practices, policies and planning to recruit, retain and graduate students.

“We are re-energizing our investments and our efforts to grow and manage our enrollment,” President Wacker said. “Our priority is now singularly focused on growing and managing our enrollment. The same strategic, purposeful, and evidenced-based efforts that resulted in the improvement in retention will now drive our enrollment efforts.”

Enrollment teams are meeting across campus and Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management Jacqueline McMillan has been holding forums and working with small groups to gather information that will inform a Strategic Enrollment Management Plan expected to be completed in November.

“Engaging in the work needed to grow enrollment will be a ‘heavy lift,’ but we will succeed if we work together,” Wacker said.

Colleges and universities throughout the state are facing enrollment challenges as the number of high school graduates is at historic lows and there is high competition for a smaller student market – St. Cloud State competes for students among 82 different colleges and universities in Minnesota alone.

“Nevertheless, we must work together to ensure that St. Cloud State is the university of choice in Minnesota for all types of students,” Wacker said.