CSRDE: Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange

NASPA: Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education

Penguin Random House National Advisory Board for Common Reading Programs

Changing the Way we do Things Around Here: Strategies Presidents use for Creating Organizational Change in Higher Education

Southern Utah University is a caring campus community where students come to explore their interests and prepare for meaningful careers and life experiences. With more than 145 undergraduate programs* and 18 graduate and certificate programs across six academic colleges, SUU proudly offers world-class, project-based learning opportunities where students gain professional experience before entering the job market.

Located in the world’s best backyard, SUU is the University of the Parks thanks to its close proximity to several outdoor recreational areas and its educational partnerships with the National Park Service. SUU’s safe, residential campus allows students - more than 10,000 - to create lifelong friendships along with once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventures in conjunction with innovative academic endeavors.

Southern Utah University

UNIV 1050 College Student Success

Jared Tippets is the vice president for student affairs at Southern Utah University. In this role he is responsible for student retention and completion. Tippets is committed to supporting all students as they learn to become successful and effective leaders on campus and in the community. 

Tippets views student services as a partner to academics. He strives to find meaningful ways to connect a student’s experiences in the classroom with their lives outside of the classroom. He oversees a variety of resources and services at SUU such as career services, tutoring, testing, counseling, academic advising, financial aid and student support services.

His professional career has been spent focusing on retention, completion, and student success efforts on both the academic affairs and student affairs side of the academy.  Prior to SUU, Tippets worked at Purdue University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Utah Valley University.

Tippets earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Utah State University and a master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Kentucky where his dissertation topic was about organizational change in higher education.

Retention of First Year College Students

Diversity & Inclusion in Higher Education

Student Involvement in Higher Education

Organizational Change in Higher Education

Management Systems

Student Retention

Student Affairs

Student Success

Leadership

Higher Education Administration

Higher Education Student Retention

Student Mental Health in Higher Education

Vice President for Student Affairs

SUU Earns National Recognition as College of Distinction

Southern Utah University develops ASCEND model, increases student retention to institution high

How this college raised freshman retention 7 points in 2 years

Increasing Diversity and Inclusion at Southern Utah University

Regents establish working group on student mental health

SUU rises to overcome past housing challenges

SUU President to LGBT students, faculty: "We want you to feel safe"

Southern Utah University ranks ‘Best in the West’ 10 years running

SUU inaugurates student government for the next year

Purdue merger aims at student success rates

The Sophomore Slump

Southern Utah University has not only found a way to increase its first-year student retention, but continues to build momentum and excitement across campus. in just two years, from 2015-2017, the University went from a stagnant 64% retention rate to 71%, a record high for the institution.  

Solving the Retention Puzzle

Colleges and universities around the country are struggling to keep first-year students engaged and enrolled year after year. Only 61% of first-year students who started in 2015 returned to the same institution in 2016, according to a report from the National Student Clearinghouse.

However, Southern Utah University has not only found a way to increase its first-year student retention, but continues to build momentum and excitement across campus. In just two years, from 2015-2017, the University went from a stagnant 64% retention rate to 71%, a record high for the institution.  

The change didn’t happen overnight and took a team of dedicated professionals countless hours to figure out how to stop the declining numbers that dropped from 69% to 64% from 2008-2015. 

Starting the process, Vice President for Student Affairs at Southern Utah University, Dr. Jared Tippets, began calling students to figure out why they left SUU. 

“We found that they were struggling with finances, sense of belonging, schedules, stress, roommates, employment - the list goes on and on. After years of trying everything outlined in the literature, and still experiencing stagnant and declining retention rates, it was clear we had to try something different.”

Enlisting the help of Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at SUU, Dr. Eric Kirby, the two went back to the drawing board. 

“The feedback we received fueled a complete overhaul of our onboarding process, first-year experience, advising model, financial assistance, and peer-mentoring program,” said Kirby. “We shifted our thinking, adjusted our approach, and adopted a new paradigm.”

The pair distilled their retention strategy into their ASCEND model: Affordability, Support, Culture, Engagement, Nudges, and Data. This strategy was used to rethink and restructure the orientation program, campus engagement, and academic advising.

Dr. Jared Tippets and Dr. Eric Kirby are both committed to supporting all students as they learn to become successful and effective leaders on campus and in the community. They are available for an interview, simply visit their profiles. 

Solving the Retention Puzzle - Keeping Students Enrolled in Higher Education 

Jared Tippets, Founders Hall Ribbon Cutting, Southern Utah University

suu-retention-rate-increases-by-doubledigits

First-year student retention rates at Southern Utah University have increased a dramatic 15.6% over the past four years, according to new data released by the University. This year the University saw 74% of first-year, full time students return for a second year, a record high for the institution.“This is a remarkable achievement and something we celebrate as a team at SUU,” said Southern Utah University President Scott L Wyatt. “We all share in the success – faculty, staff and especially our students.”As colleges and universities across the U.S. struggle to keep first-year students enrolled and in the classroom, SUU has dedicated countless hours and resources to solving the retention puzzle. “Increasing retention rates takes the work of the entire University community,” said Dr. Jared Tippets, vice president for student affairs at SUU. “Our student’s mission is to graduate and oftentimes they overcome difficult obstacles to achieve that goal. I’m proud of their increased persistence.”Beginning in 2015, Dr. Tippets and his team began pinpointing the key connections required for students to be successful in school, specifically focused on first-year students returning. The team distilled their retention strategy into the ASCEND model: affordability, support, culture, engagement, nudged, and data. This strategy was used to rethink and restructure the orientation program, campus engagement, and academic advising.Once first-year retention was solid, the team turned its attention to sophomore students to increase retention rates and enhance the second year experience. Through those efforts, SUU created the SOAR (success through opportunities, activities, and resources) program. The program focuses on nine core competencies: communication skills, teamwork/collaboration, leadership, creativity and problem solving, professional development, information technology, intercultural perspective, career management, and financial management. And relies heavily on completion ACES, mentors assigned to each student to help smooth the transition into their sophomore year. Through both programs, SUU students receive many opportunities to grow and succeed not just as students, but as people. The university’s commitment to enhancing the undergraduate experience sets students on an upward trajectory, leading to personal growth, civic responsibility, and professional excellence.

SUU Retention Rate Increases by Double-Digits

solving-the-retention-puzzle-keeping-students-enrolled-in-higher-education-

Assistant Professor of Management and Business Law

Colleges and universities around the country are struggling to keep first-year students engaged and enrolled year after year. Only 61% of first-year students who started in 2015 returned to the same institution in 2016, according to a report from the National Student Clearinghouse.However, Southern Utah University has not only found a way to increase its first-year student retention, but continues to build momentum and excitement across campus. In just two years, from 2015-2017, the University went from a stagnant 64% retention rate to 71%, a record high for the institution.  The change didn’t happen overnight and took a team of dedicated professionals countless hours to figure out how to stop the declining numbers that dropped from 69% to 64% from 2008-2015. Starting the process, Vice President for Student Affairs at Southern Utah University, Dr. Jared Tippets, began calling students to figure out why they left SUU. “We found that they were struggling with finances, sense of belonging, schedules, stress, roommates, employment - the list goes on and on. After years of trying everything outlined in the literature, and still experiencing stagnant and declining retention rates, it was clear we had to try something different.”Enlisting the help of Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at SUU, Dr. Eric Kirby, the two went back to the drawing board. “The feedback we received fueled a complete overhaul of our onboarding process, first-year experience, advising model, financial assistance, and peer-mentoring program,” said Kirby. “We shifted our thinking, adjusted our approach, and adopted a new paradigm.”The pair distilled their retention strategy into their ASCEND model: Affordability, Support, Culture, Engagement, Nudges, and Data. This strategy was used to rethink and restructure the orientation program, campus engagement, and academic advising.Dr. Jared Tippets and Dr. Eric Kirby are both committed to supporting all students as they learn to become successful and effective leaders on campus and in the community. They are available for an interview, simply visit their profiles. Source:

Located in Cedar City, Southern Utah University is in the heart of Utah's color country region. Distinguished above others for its focus on personalized education, SUU prepares its students to achieve excellence in their chosen field and create positive change in the world. 

http://www.suu.edu

Southern Utah University
351 West University Boulevard
Cedar City, UT 84720
435.586.7700

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