Tom Vodrey, Staff Writer—

The administration of Denison is seeking to understand the factors which influence student decisions to return to the university after their first year.

The study, conducted by the Art & Science Group consulting and research firm, consists of surveys and interviews with both current and recently departed students. The firm is currently in the midst of conducting the study, having already begun reaching out to students via email. Administrators hope that the firm, which specializes in issues related to higher education, will be able to shed new light on the student experience and how it influences on student retention.

According to Greg Sneed, Denison’s Vice President for Enrollment Management, the university will use the quantitative data provided by the Art & Science Group to evaluate potential improvements to campus life.

“We can learn a lot about what can be changed by talking directly with students about what their experiences are like,” said Sneed.

The university will be provided a high-level analysis of the collected survey and interview data. All information collected will be kept confidential, including the identities of those surveyed and interviewed. 

By carrying out the research through a third party, administrators hope that those who may be hesitant to talk directly to the University will be willing to share their experiences.

This is the first study in recent memory which the University has conducted regarding student retention. Sneed emphasized that the study is a general examination of the university and not a diagnosis of any specific problem.

“There are lots of reasons why someone might not come back. Retention rate is one of many different metrics we pay attention to,” said Sneed.

According to the Denison Fact Book for 2022-23, among the class of 2023, an average 85.1% of students returned to campus following their first year at the university. Denison is also roughly comparable with nearby institutions like the College of Wooster and Ohio State University where a respective 87% and 93.9% of students return after their first year.

Although the university’s retention rate has remained high, there have been areas of concern. Of the original class of 2023, 77.8% returned to campus last fall semester, the lowest four-year retention rate since the early 2000s. The drop represents a total of 139 students in the class of 2023 who have left the University prematurely. Sneed attributes this and other recent declines to the extraordinary circumstances and disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The university expects the study results from the Arts & Sciences group by the end of this academic year in May or June of 2024. Sneed anticipates that the results will prompt reflection throughout the university, from administrators and faculty. With an issue as multifaceted as student retention, it remains to be seen if the results will be actionable or even unique to the student experience at Denison.

“It could reveal if there’s something specific to address,” said Sneed. “Certainly we’ll learn something about the experience at Denison and why some students stay and some leave.”