President Dr. Fred Finks set a goal for the university to achieve a retention rate of 82 percent in 10 years. As part of reaching that goal, retention services recently returned to AU with the creation of the Office of Student Success and Retention in July.

The new Office of Student Success and Retention has multiple purposes because retention rates are affected by numerous factors.

“Sometime I look at retention as kind of an octopus with all these tentacles,” Director Kathy Stone said.

Some roles of the new office include studying data about students who have withdrawn from AU in the past, helping new students acclimate to life at AU, and reaching out to students who are having trouble or considering leaving.

“I like to think of it first of all as an office that helps students be successful,” Stone said. “A key to this office is intervening early.”

Admissions representative Mike Bradley handled retention part-time last year after the office was removed from Student Affairs two years ago, according to Stone.

“This year we’re giving special attention to it,” Stone said. “Before this…I don’t think there was an emphasis on it.”

But retention is becoming an issue not only at AU but nationwide.

According to Stone, only 57 percent of students who start college graduate, which is just one reason retention has become a hot topic. According to the U.S. News and World Report on the Best Colleges, Ashland has an average graduation rate of 60 percent.

“[Retention] is a major buzz word right now across the country,” Stone said.

Stone said that retention rates have been “erratic” since 1992. The lowest point for retention rates in recent years was approximately 68 percent in 1996, and the highest peak in recent years was approximately 77 percent in 1994.

One of the major reasons students give for leaving during exit interviews is financial issues, Stone said.

“They want to be here, they love it, they’re doing well, but they can’t afford it,” Stone said. “That really bothers me.”

The Office of Student Success and Retention is working with the Development Office and Financial Aid Office to get more outside scholarships for students, Stone said. A committee has also been formed with representatives from various offices and departments around campus to study retention-related issues.

Stone said one of the next steps is to conduct student focus groups to gather more information.