>> I think the main reason
why our students are dropping out
is because they don't know
what to expect from college.
And for one thing,
our brochures promise too much.
>> It's especially hard for
non-traditional students to stay in school.
They have so many other
responsibilities pulling at them.
>> Well, maybe we should simply redo the brochure
so it's not so glitzy, not so unrealistic.
I mean, let's just
tell it like it is.
>> Most schools like us
who have a lot of commuters
also provide some type
of child care.
That would be very helpful to the
non-traditional students with kids.
>> We also need a more
realistic orientation program.
One that ran the entire
first semester would help solve
some of our student-retention problems.
>> Do you have any idea how much
a center like that would cost?
>> You mean for a continuing-orientation program?
>> No, no. I'm talking about child care.
>> Okay, hold on, everybody.
It's no wonder we're getting so confused here.
We're all talking about different things.
Let's just focus on why
we're having a retention problem.
That's our agenda here.
I think a big reason is because students
don't know what to expect from college.
>> That's true, Sean.
Our freshmen are really unrealistic
about what it takes to do well in college.
But it's not just them.
Our non-traditional students don't understand
how much time and energy
is consumed by taking courses.
>> You're absolutely right, Suzanne. We have a
high percentage of non-traditional students.
Most of them work, have kids,
mortgage payments, and lots of other obligations.
Once they enroll, they find it hard to add
one more thing like school to the mix.
>> I agree with both of you.
Once non-traditional students do find
that they've overextended themselves,
they are reluctant to ask for help,
or they just don't know where to go.
>> That's also true for our freshmen, Jeff --
especially the first semester,
when we lose 40% of them.
We cover student services
during summer orientation,
but it doesn't mean
anything to them at that point.
>> Right. And our exit interviews suggest
that these dropouts feel
that they have no support groups on campus.
>> So, an ongoing-orientation program
and some specific services
to help reduce the pressures
might help with student retention.
For example, maybe offering
a short-term loan program,
short-term counseling, and maybe even a child-care
facility of some kind.