If you’ve been on Otterbein’s campus long enough, you’ve noticed that there are more women than men. In an effort to keep the guys on campus, a subcommittee of the Retention Council has been formed to help improve male retention rates at Otterbein.
This year’s overall retention rate was 75.3 percent compared to last year’s 77.5 percent, according to Kate Lehman, the assistant dean for student success and co-chair of the committee. A breakdown by gender shows a significant drop in male retention.
Female retention last year was 79.9 percent, while male retention was only 68.7 percent. Over an 11 percent gap from men to women has the experts’ attention.
The Retention Council as a whole takes notice of group trends, according to Lehman.
There are 25 people on the Retention Council as a whole, but a smaller group of four-five has volunteered for the subcommittee that is looking at this specific trend. “It’s really a moving target because we are always looking at the issues,” Lehman said.
The council is extra sensitive to the trend of male retention, as it has become a national issue. “Universities all across the country are experiencing a lack of male retention,” Lehman said.
“This committee looks at the best practices for male retention and looks to understand what a male experience is like on campus,” Lehman said. Her co-chair is the new vice president for enrollment management, Jefferson Blackburn-Smith.
Blackburn-Smith, who is new to the position, has a basic plan for addressing the issue.
“As we develop a strategic enrollment plan over the next several months, we will be looking at how the students we are recruiting, admitting and enrolling progress through Otterbein, with an eye on improving student retention and success for all students,” he said in an email interview.
Although male retention is a trend that has been identified across the country, a small student population makes it difficult for experts to track exact reasons for why a student might choose to leave.
According to Lehman, Otterbein lost 161 traditional first-year students from the class of 2014. “Each student that decides to leave Otterbein is an individual case. There are many reasons students choose to leave,” Lehman said.
Some point to over-recruitment in athletics as a reason for males leaving Otterbein in their first year.
“There is not a real difference
(in retention rates) between athletes and non-athletes at this point. No evidence has emerged yet,” Lehman said.
Lehman said that the best way to improve retention is to keep students involved on campus. “Always being part of a community keeps students engaged,” Lehman said.
The Retention Council has been active behind the scenes, improving the experience for Otterbein students for many years.
For example, it has sent reminders about the FAFSA so that students can afford to attend Otterbein.
“Retention really means focusing on the student experience … We are always looking for new ways to help our students,” Lehman said.
