The office of the Provost anticipates the freshman retention rate for fall 2010 to be in the high 50 percent range said Provost James Gandre.
The Torch reported last year’s retention rate as being 52 percent. This means 52 percent of the freshman class who started in Fall of 2008 returned to Roosevelt for their sophomore year.
While it is too early to get exact numbers for next year’s student body, Gandre said the projected retention rate was based on a higher unofficial retention rate between Fall 2009 and Spring 2010.
Gandre said the low retention rate is due to many different issues. One major issue is the recession. The huge increase in traditional freshman students could also be a factor. But, Gandre said, it does not have to do with too many students.
“I’m not sure if it’s the number of new freshman as much as it is the structure of how we are as an institution,” Gandre said.
Assistant Vice President for Admission Beth Gierach said historically Roosevelt was primarily made up of older, part-time students.
In 2006, Roosevelt’s full-time undergraduate population was 2,134 while the part-time undergraduate population was 1,841, Gierach said. Last fall full-time students rose by 700, while part-time dropped by 493.
Gandre said traditionally the more selective colleges hold higher retention rates.
“We brought in many, many more students who are in the general category, not the selective category,” Gandre said.
The school calculates the retention rate every year in October, Gandre said.
Gandre said in order to raise the retention rate over the next few years the school is hiring more full-time faculty members.
Last year almost 40 new full-time teachers came to the school.
Gandre said Roosevelt is looking to hire an additional 20 for the fall semester.
The hope, Gandre said, is that full-time faculty members will have more time for students who are having trouble staying in class.
“This office is very dedicated to tackling this problem . . . we can and will do a better job,” Gandre said.
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