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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
October 21, 2020
News VSU uses new tool to lower retention rates
Kayla Pool
Managing and News Editor kepool@valdosta.edu
resource. “I already knew I wanted to do photography,” Nasir Warner, a freshman majoring in mass media said. “Majoring in mass media is what excited me to attend VSU. I think it’s helpful VSU is offering ways to help students pick their major though.” According to mymajors.com, the national average retention rate for four-year schools is 71.8%. MyMajors survey takers have an average retention rate of 85.6%. The retention rate of students taking the MyMajors assessment is consistent across all ethnicities and genders, ranging from
84.7% to 89.5%. “We can see the student’s intended major and their selected major after they complete the assessment,” Tillman said. “As (an) adviser, we learn about each student’s goals and background, concerns that may hinder completion of degree and their top motivation for attending college.” According to Tillman, advisers have learned that 37% of the students that completed the survey are first-generation college students, and the top concerns that may hinder completion of degree is paying for college, balancing work and school, family and poor study habits.
Incoming freshmen students can now utilize a tool to help pick a major and stick to it. In summer 2020, incoming freshmen were able to use a tool called the MyMajors assessment. This tool is a survey that takes about 15 minutes to complete. Based on the answers, the student will receive a list of the top 10 majors at VSU that match the student’s academic achievement, aptitude, unique interests, and preferences. “Finding a major can be tough and that’s why VSU used the MyMajors Assessment this summer,” said Cheri Tillman, director of Advising Center for College of Honors and Exploratory Studies. According to mymajors.com, research has shown that “students engaging in the right majors on your campus enroll, persist, and graduate in four-years at up to 22% higher rates than the national average.” Here is data from VSU summer 2020: Total assessment registrations: 3,125 students (97% completed the assessment) Major Confidence: 28% A Little Sure 6% Not at All 66% Confident While some VSU students already had an idea about what their plan was, In summer 2020, incoming freshmen were able to use a tool called the MyMajors assessment. they are still approving of the new
The top three motivations for attending college are to get a good job, college is the next step in their education and to make more money. “Our advising unit hopes to partner with various divisions in Student Affairs to be proactive by helping our students overcome some of their concerns,” Tillman said. “We have students who indicated they were worried about their lack of motivation and goals and even access to food. These are obstacles that we can help students beat.”
Photo Courtesy of MyMajors Website
High speed chase disturbs VSU campus
In summer 2020, incoming freshmen were able to use a tool called the MyMajors assessment.
Kayla Pool
Managing and News Editor kepool@valdosta.edu Watch your toes, VSU students, as a dirt bike rider roams free after shaking off VSU Police in a highspeed chase through Pedestrian Mall on Sept. 30. On the night of Sept. 30 around 7:50 p.m. Officer Michael Whitlock initiated a traffic stop after hearing multiple dirt bikes riding down a nearby street. “One of the dirt bikes drove through the pedestrian mall to try to get away and Whitlock followed until his supervisor told him to disengage,” Officer Rebecca Leatherberry, operations Supervisor of VSU Police Department, said. According to Whitlock’s police
report, he drove towards North Oak Street and could hear the dirt bikes going north of his position. Once he was at the intersection of North Oak Street and West Brookwood Drive, he could see three dirt bikes going around vehicles on North Oak Street heading west onto Baytree Road. He then proceeded to conduct the traffic stop. All three motorcycles took off at a high rate of speed. Two of the dirt bikes turned onto Sustella Avenue and one continued on Baytree Road. Whitlock pursued after the one bike onto Baytree Road heading west bound. The subject went into the oncoming traffic lane to go around vehicles turning
onto Melody Lane. The driver disregarded the red light at Baytree Road and Melody Lane as well. He then turned into the gas station and continued back east bound on Baytree Road at a high rate of speed towards North Oak Street.
“The driver turned north bound onto North Oak Street then onto Hopper Circle cutting across the Pedestrian Mall walkway from the Student Union towards Carter Drive.” The driver turned north bound
Photo Courtesy of MyMajors Website
onto North Oak Street then onto Hopper Circle cutting across the Pedestrian Mall walkway from the Student Union towards Carter Drive. VSU students on the scene witnessed the incident and some were rather intrigued. “All we heard were sirens and saw them,” said Chasity, a freshman major in business management who didn’t give her last name. “We saw the bike come through and it almost hit us, so we had to back up and then the police car came through where the Student Union is. When it hit us, it basically just caused our hearts to race. It was unexpected, but honestly it was kind of dope to see.” Other VSU students were in
shock about the chase. “Honestly, I thought it was a funny because I saw a dirt bike and then I saw the police, but I thought they were doing two different things,” said Icarli Felder, a junior majoring in secondary education. “I thought the police wouldn’t follow him, but they drove straight through here.” Whitlock resumed to normal operations after his supervisor called off the chase. “Pursuits are often terminated when it becomes too dangerous (i.e. the potential of hitting a pedestrian on campus) and there is no apparent felonious reason why the driver is evading arrest, which is what happened in this case,” Leatherberry said.