Winter retention study results in discussions

Students to talk about why they'd stay in Oberlin

Several students and administrators spent their Winter Term on campus researching the College's retention rates.

Assistant to the President Diana Roose led students in a study to find out what makes students gravitate toward and transfer from Oberlin. The group brainstormed a number of issues which would define a successful Oberlin experience.

"After a lot of discussion, we decided to do yet another series of talks with students about what they perceive is the most important part of a successful stay at Oberlin," Roose said.

Joe DiChristina, assistant to Roose, said some issues to be raised at these discussions are campus life, athletics, the transition into life at Oberlin, academics and advising services and financial issues.

"We're trying to get a better feel for the texture and variety of experiences in these areas, so when it comes to policy making we'll have information to draw on. It's easy to make policies in a vacuum, but we need input," Roose said.

"Some questions are very general and get at how students feel on-campus about success academically and how the institution can help out," DiChristina said.

Roose said the discussions will probably last for two hours and will be open to any student who signs up for them on the sheets posted in dorms and off-campus locations.

"This won't be an attempt to tap every single opinion in the College, but to get a representative group of students for feedback and get a good cross-section of people," Roose said.

The students working on the project included first-year Kyleema Murray, sophomore Nicole James, junior Mary Jerzak and first-year Alyson Chambers.

Roose said they will continue to be a part of the discussion-group process.

"We want a report of our findings drafted by this Spring. It will definitely be done by the end of the academic year so we can get some feedback," Roose said.