HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - Officials with Marshall University say the school’s freshman retention rate is at an all-time high.
News outlets reported on Friday that 78% of the full-time freshman who enrolled in the fall of 2019 returned for the fall of 2020. That’s 5% higher than the previous year.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Jaime Taylor says the school has never reported such a big increase in a single year.
Officials credit the high retention rate to several efforts, including a peer mentoring program that matches incoming freshman students with a peer mentor to help give tips and answer questions.
The university also says it prioritized virtual advising session over the past year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The university also offered retention grants made available through a donation from the former chairman of the university’s foundation board of directors.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Sherri Smith says cancellation and no-show rates were low,.
Marshall University is scheduled to resume face-to-face classes for students when the fall semester begins in August.
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