Confused by Student Retention Analytics Solutions?

We frequently hear from colleges and universities who make significant investments in student retention analytics solutions that don’t create the value that was promised for the actual students (i.e. massive data collection and student tracking platforms collecting information on library swipes and course progression).

These platforms are oftentimes left sitting on shelves and academic advisors are unsure how to use the data resources that are available to them. When students are flagged for being at-risk of dropping out, it is because their behaviors have already changed. They are already missing classes and grades are already dropping. The recommended ‘nudges’ such as alerting a student that their grades are dropping, seems to double down on the stress to students. It is usually too little, too late.

SIGHTLINE’S LONG-TERM STUDENT ENGAGEMENT SOLUTION

Our team of data scientists and student engagement specialists have developed an analytics solution that identifies students who are at-risk of dropping out up to a year in advance. This long-term alert system allows college and university leaders to do the following:

• Identify underlying risk factors such as a lack of campus engagement, financial need, over participation on campus, or a lack of academic preparedness
• Focus on solutions earlier, sometimes before students even step foot on campus during their first year
• Recommend students for high-touch engagement programs such as general studies with recitation sessions, employment for both financial and social engagement benefits, scholarship programs with a progress-based component, campus engagement opportunities, and individual one-on-one check-ins and support
• Engage with at-risk students over the summer semester, when students and their families may have the opportunity to address larger life challenges
• Measure and validate the impact of interventions long-term for continual improvement

We view the student lifecycle as a long-term investment. Supporting students through that journey needs to have a long-term solution rather than reactive alerts. To learn more, contact the SightLine team