Can We Improve College Retention Rates?

Investing four years in obtaining an undergraduate degree can seem like an overwhelming task, especially with the current state of the U.S. economy. In addition to the time commitment, the financial burden of this investment is enough to sway many young adults away from the idea. But does the investment eventually payoff, either with a competitive salary or a promising career path? The answer is yes, but the real problem now lies with retention rates. According to national statistics, only 50 percent of students in the United States who enroll in postsecondary education actually end up completing their degree program. So the question remains, how can we ensure that these students will actually stick it out and earn their degrees?

There are some who believe that it is necessary to have a college degree in order to remain competitive in today's job market. For them, there is no way that an individual without a degree can possibly earn as much money as someone in the same career who has a college degree. Others feel that certain careers provide enough on-the-job training to circumvent the issue of not having a degree. Regardless of your position, there are additional benefits to enrolling in college, including specific skills that can be obtained. In fact, the skill-set of an individual who has graduated from college is more refined and marketable, compared to an individual without a degree. The U.S. Department of Labor statistics has predicted that by the year 2016, fifty percent of all U.S. jobs will require college-level skills. In addition, a recent study by a U.S. company that researches salaries found that college graduates from top schools earn almost $1 million more than the typical high school graduate.

So if earning a college degree appears to be the best choice, then how can we make sure that those who enroll actually stay the course and complete their degree program? One way to do so is by leveraging the use of technology, which has become such an integral part of the workforce and society in general. For instance, creating cutting-edge virtual learning facilities and offering access to online learning tools can assist in making colleges more appealing to the majority. Developing individualized or customized curriculum based on the individual's needs, interests and goals can also make a huge difference. However, I think the biggest impact would be the professional development of the instructional staff. As an adjunct professor in several colleges, I am aware of the challenges of postsecondary educators. I also understand the challenges students face in order to succeed in outmoded classrooms.

But will the technology be enough to retain the students in order to complete their degree? I personally believe that students will not stay because of the technology, but they will be more engaged in the learning process if they are being taught using the technology. It is not the technology itself, but learning how they can apply it to their studies/career that will make learning more interesting.

But again, do we have the instructional staff that knows how to implement the technology and make it relative to the course? Do professors understand the impact social media has on their curriculum? Do they know how to implement technology effectively in the classroom? Without the training for the instructional staff, regardless of the access to technology, the students are often left to facilitate their own learning, and often that is what becomes most frustrating for the students.