Gone, But Not
Gone
Presenters:
The Rest of the Student
Retention “Story”
Dr. Lillie Howard - Vice President For Curriculum and
Instruction,
Dean of University College
Jennifer Penick - Associate Director, Financial Aid,
Manager of Financial Aid Systems
Dan Bertsos – Director, Residence Services
Standford Baddley - Director of Academic Support Programs
for Minority Students
Perry Harris III – Student
Presentation Overview
“Gone, But Not Gone” students have neither left the
university nor remained officially enrolled, but
they often escape our retention efforts because
they look and behave like officially enrolled
students. This session will look at what we are
learning and how we are responding to this
phenomenon at Wright State University; show
how FAFSA and housing data can serve as
predictors and lead to appropriate early
intervention; and feature one “gone, but not
gone” student who has recently re-enrolled at the
University.
About Wright State:
• Main campus at Dayton, OH; Branch campus in Celina , OH
• Founded in 1964 as part of Miami University and Ohio State University
• Became independent, state-assisted university in 1967 • Celebrating 40th anniversary in 2007!
• Named after Wilbur and Orville Wright
• Located adjacent to Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPA
FB).
Student Body Profile
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Open Access Institution 17,000 Students
13,000 Undergraduates
4,000 Graduate Students
57% Female Students
43% Male Students
14.5% Students of Color
91% From the State of Ohio
562 International Students from 67
Countries
• 312 Students with Disabilities
Handouts:
Financial Aid
at Wright State University
• 11,131 of 17,000 receive aid (65.4%)
• 2005-2006 awarded $122,702,972 in aid
• Cost Of Attendance: $19,383
• Average undergraduate award: $9,787
Who are the Students Who get into
Financial Difficulties?
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First Year Students
Residential Students
Students with Disabilities
Dependent Student Status
PLUS denial
Standards of Academic Progress
Change in circumstances
Identifying Students who could be
Gone, But Not Gone
• Demographic/Biographical info
• Financial Aid Data
• Standards of Academic Progress
• Characteristics of the Aid Award
• FAFSA Data
WSU Student Housing Options:
• Residence Halls
– Double Loaded Corridors
– Suites
– Single/Double/Triple/Quad
• On Campus Apartments
– Shared/Individual Lease
– Furnished/Unfurnished
• Special Interest Housing
– Living/Learning Communities
– Fraternity/Sorority blocks
• Off-Campus
– Home/Commuter
– Apartments
• No Campus Housing obligation
• 9 & 12 month agreements
• University (20%) and privately owned, WSU or o/c
landlords
Residents Gone, but not Gone
• Early indicators:
– Unregistered after first registration opportunity
deadline
– Positive balance on Bursar’s account
– Interruption in Financial Aid award cycle
• Interventions
– Individual contact via staff
– Consult Financial Aid & University College
– Referral to appropriate office(s)
• Other Concerns
– Room Selection Lottery Timing & Off-Campus
Competition
– Actions, Priorities & Consequences of Private Landlords
Perry Harris III:
Gone, But Not Gone Student
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Originally from Sylvania, OH
Graduated in 2001
Began attending Wright State Fall 2001
Majoring in English Education
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President Of Hamilton Hall Community Gov’t
Secretary of Black Men on the Move
Vice President of Black Men on the Move
President of Black Men on the Move
Director In HIS Presence Gospel Choir*
President of In HIS Presence Gospel Choir
President Black Student Union*
2005 Wright State Univ. Homecoming King*
All Positions held while “Gone But Not Gone”
Perry Harris III:
Gone, But Not Gone Student
• Was not officially registered for classes since
Winter 2006
– Low GPA
– Not enough credit hours to keep financial aid
• Continued to hold all positions, titles, office
hours
and run meetings
• Served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the
University
Factors Contributing to Departure
•Ever-increasing education/living cost and diminishing
financial aid
•Students unprepared for academic/financial
responsibilities.
•Students seek membership in social groups and
students organizations as a means of gaining
validation and affirmation on campus, but the
academic component takes a distant second place
•Vagueness in university policy and definition of
“enrollment status”
•Students overwhelmed, serving in as many as three
organizations.
•Students fail to set realistic goals with adequate
Targeted Intervention Strategies
• Be proactive and identify potential Gone, But Not
Gone students before they leave the university.
• Focus on getting students engaged and connected
academically
to the campus, particularly during the freshmen
year.
• Monitor students involvement in student
organizations by
proposing and developing a co-curricular
transcript.
• Develop and implement a more intrusive follow up
procedure when students are placed probation for
failing to meet standards of academic progress.
Additional Intervention Strategies
• Back to School Program
• TEACHERS Program
• REACH Program
• Pass Program
• Learning Communities
• Residential Communities
Summary Remarks
&
Discussion