University retention rate on the rise
By: Staff Member
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Andrea Brazell
Visual Arts Editor
North Greenville University kept 87 percent of students from last year, a recent study says.
The study, conducted by the university's administration last spring, found the total number of students eligible to return and divided it by those who re-enrolled.
That number is what university statisticians call retention rate, and NGU's rate surpasses those of other major universities such as University of South Carolina and University of Indiana.
For the 2007 to 2008 academic year, NGU kept roughly 1,740 students from the 2006 to 2007 year.
"As a whole we work pretty hard to keep students in school," said Dr. Tony Beam, university vice president. "Our size, even though we're growing, allows us the opportunity to work with students on an individual basis - to work out things such as financial aid and other things that could keep a student from coming back."
Dr. Beam said he credited also a strong sense of community at the university as a reason so many students decided to continue studying at North Greenville.
Unlike some Christian universities that sacrifice quality education for a spiritual environment according to secular academia and some students who attend those institutions, the faculty and staff at NGU strive to break that stereotype.
"When we say this is a Christian campus we mean it. We believe we can be a fine academic institution as well as a fine Christian institution. We don't feel the need to choose. You can love Jesus Christ and have a good education," said Dr. Don Dowless, vice president of academics.
In 1984 the university's retention rate was 84 percent and has remained steady since. Upon reevaluation in 2005, the university was at 85 percent.
Dr. Dowless said he was pleased with the improvement in NGU's retention rate and had a few ideas as to why.
"We focus on student learning and how we can better prepare our students for life," Dowless said. "We're adding new programs, getting student input and continuing to make improvements every year."
Visual Arts Editor
North Greenville University kept 87 percent of students from last year, a recent study says.
The study, conducted by the university's administration last spring, found the total number of students eligible to return and divided it by those who re-enrolled.
That number is what university statisticians call retention rate, and NGU's rate surpasses those of other major universities such as University of South Carolina and University of Indiana.
For the 2007 to 2008 academic year, NGU kept roughly 1,740 students from the 2006 to 2007 year.
"As a whole we work pretty hard to keep students in school," said Dr. Tony Beam, university vice president. "Our size, even though we're growing, allows us the opportunity to work with students on an individual basis - to work out things such as financial aid and other things that could keep a student from coming back."
Dr. Beam said he credited also a strong sense of community at the university as a reason so many students decided to continue studying at North Greenville.
Unlike some Christian universities that sacrifice quality education for a spiritual environment according to secular academia and some students who attend those institutions, the faculty and staff at NGU strive to break that stereotype.
"When we say this is a Christian campus we mean it. We believe we can be a fine academic institution as well as a fine Christian institution. We don't feel the need to choose. You can love Jesus Christ and have a good education," said Dr. Don Dowless, vice president of academics.
In 1984 the university's retention rate was 84 percent and has remained steady since. Upon reevaluation in 2005, the university was at 85 percent.
Dr. Dowless said he was pleased with the improvement in NGU's retention rate and had a few ideas as to why.
"We focus on student learning and how we can better prepare our students for life," Dowless said. "We're adding new programs, getting student input and continuing to make improvements every year."
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