By By Kirby Reed
With the fall semester winding to an end, some students are looking forward to winter break, while others are gearing up for a permanent break from the University by transferring to another institution.
In an effort to raise the retention rate at the University, which is currently at 78 percent for freshman, the Office of Retention Services is making an effort to address concerns of students looking for the nearest exit, Stephen Albano, the director of Enrollment and Retention Services, said.
Albano, along with members of higher administration, conducted focus groups Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, in order to better understand why students decide to transfer.
“The University was unhappy, particularly with the first and second year return rate,” Albano said, explaining the office’s inception.
The return rate for freshmen for the fall semester is up 5 percent over last year, but, according to Albano, University President Stuart Rabinowitz wants the return rate to be in the 80 percent range, staying on track with competing universities.
“I like it here at Hofstra,” Jeremy Spitzer, a freshman biology major, said. “It did cross my mind about transferring though, mostly because of the cost.”
The cost factor is one of two main reasons why students transfer, the other being homesickness. Students do not take into account how difficult it can be going away to college, both financially and emotionally, Albano said.
“I have two daughters who have gone through the college process,” he added. “I know from a parent’s perspective that that first year can be tough.”
The five focus groups, consisting of student volunteers, represent all aspects of the student body, including freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, Long Island students who reside on campus, Long Island students who commute and students who come from out-of-state.
“[With the focus groups] first and foremost, we want to find out what their expectations were coming here – why they selected Hofstra,” Albano said.
Helping students adjust can be easier with family support.
The Office of Retention Services tries to keep the parents involved with their child’s progress without infringing on the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), a federal law that requires colleges and universities to keep student education records confidential. Through letters, the office encourages parents to show an interest in their child’s college life by asking their son or daughter to fill them in on classes or to name at least three friends they’ve met. That way, parents will also be able to recognize signs of unhappiness and dissatisfaction.
Albano added that students involved in on-campus clubs and activities are also more likely to complete their undergraduate work. By making new friends and feeling like a part of the campus community, students are at less risk of transferring, as well as declining grades.
“I was thinking about transferring to Brooklyn College because I never adjusted to ‘Hofstra life,'” Lauren Reed, a senior community health major, said. “I never got involved and never really used everything that the school had to offer.”
The office hopes to encourage students to participate in all the areas that University has to offer. By acknowledging why students transfer and making the appropriate changes, the University just might turn out to be a second home for more students.