First to second year retention of new first-year students admitted from high school
FIGURE 2.7
100 90 80
88.5
88.4
88.8
82.1
81.2
82.8
SePt. 2008 CoHoRT
SePt. 2009 CoHoRT
SePt. 2010 CoHoRT
87.0 80.9
70 Per cent
60 50 40 30 20 10 0 SePt. 2011 CoHoRT
Source: Office of Institutional Analysis & Research; U15 Data Exchange Consortium
The 100 Days feedback reflected this concern.
“I would like to raise the issue of retention and ask if Dal will take a unified, crosscampus, cross-departmental approach to investigating retention issues and creating programs to improve student experience and academic performance with the aim of curtailing attrition.”—Faculty member
“We should not be encouraging international students to come here if we cannot deliver on what we promise them. I’ve seen so many of them struggling.”—Staff member
Of particular concern is the retention rate for international students, which improved between 2008 and 2011 (the most recent comparative data available), but still lagged the retention rate of Canadian and Nova Scotian students. International enrolment at Dalhousie has increased rapidly, going from 809 in 2000 to 2,686 in 2013. Supporting international students is a multi-dimensional process that draws on resources from many different departments and services.
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“Yes, we should continue to attract [international] students, but we should also pay close attention to support their success once they’re here.”—Staff member “We have had a significant increase in international students which is good in terms of a vibrant mix of students from different backgrounds and cultures but brings with it the need for more support services such as additional language training and study skills training.”—Faculty member
Dalhousie U15