• Increase first year persistence of new transfer students from 82% in fall 2017 (2016 cohort) to 85% in Fall 2024 (fall 2023 cohort). : • Decrease the average time-to-degree for first time full time students from 17.6 to 16.0 terms. • Decrease the average time-to-degree for transfer students from 10.0 to 8.7 terms. Theme: I don't think we know that academic success is the barrier to retention. I suspect (but don't know, but then, neither do you or the authors of this plan) that financial problems are a greater barrier to retention. In fact, financial problems are also a barrier to academic success -- when students are working 40 hours a week to support themselves, it is all but impossible for them to be successful with a 15 credit load, which represents 15 hours in class per week plus 30 hours of out of class work per week. In addition to this, the housing crunch in the Ellensburg area has left many students struggling to find a place to live. Nowhere in the plan are these issues quantified or discussed. Agreed. Strategy #6 was added to the strategy list under Goal #3 to reflect that reality. Many factors beyond academic success can contribute to a student leaving the university. The financial aid optimization report for the fall 2018 entering first year class was received on November 30 th ,2018, and reviewed by the Tuition Waiver Subcommittee on December 13 th , 2018, after the end of the public comment period. It recommends increasing need-based aid to help close the affordability gap. That recommendation, among others, will be included in the Fall 19 Tuition Waiver Plan. The President’s Budget Advisory Committee will review it during winter quarter and forward it to the president for approval.
Theme: One [goal] is to increase the retention rate. But there is zero data in this plan telling us why students are not retained or what we can do to address this.
The Strategic Enrollment Plans Goal #3 may undergo some revision next year following release of the CWU retention plan, currently in its final review draft. Implement a Conditional Admit status and required support ( this may reduce warning/probation) recommendations for improvement, will be presented to the Provost by June 2018.
Theme: Housing: This is a big concern I have for the success of this outlook. Available housing is already a significant concern for students. . . They are sleeping on each others couches or in cars for the quarter—a difficult lifestyle to lead while trying to focus on your studies. . . . Adding 400 beds might fix today’s problem, but it’s not dealing with a 4 year issue. The community cannot absorb the housing for these students because it’s not there.
The SE Plan goals will require CWU and community partners to address both the on-campus and off-campus housing stock. How the increased demand is met is outside the scope of
FINAL DRAFT 2/11/2019 Page 39
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