Modeling, mentoring and monitoring must be the responsibility of the entire institution. The instructors are not the only responsible parties when it comes to retention. Although instructors play a huge role in assisting students, the cashier's office, financial aid, admissions, counseling and advising and on up to the President's office all should have a vested interest in students completing courses and, ultimately, graduating.
Increasing enrollment and retention are extremely important in our institution and strategies are constantly being implemented. We have had campus-wide meetings to discuss how to improve these areas.
This is a very important strategy. I believe if the entire organization has this single minded goal retention will improve. If the entire organization does not, it will fail. One person that does not care, does not return a call, or waits for someone else to make the call will adversely impact the student and can hurt retention. Everyone must be on board.
