Going to college after high school is a big transition and sometimes freshman have a hard time making it. Whether it's from being overloaded or commitments outside school like job and family, many college students drop out or withdraw before their second year.
One of the biggest factors in colleges that retain more of their freshmen into sophomore, junior and senior year, is whether or not these freshmen live on campus.
"When you know people and you're in a community setting, you get a sense of being a part of something," Danny Armitage, associate dean of students said. "It is a very supportive environment."
Armitage is the director of the Freshman First program at Richardson Towers, designed to help resident students become integrated into The University of Memphis community and utilize all the resources available to ensure a successful college career.
Research has shown that students on campus have better grades, higher GPAs, higher graduation rate and have higher percentages in graduate school.
According to the Education Commission of the States, completion rates nationwide are low and no more than 70 percent of students complete a degree within five or six years of enrollment in any of the states.
In 2001 the nationwide four-year college graduation rate based on the percentage of students who graduated within six years of freshman enrollment is 53 percent.
Armitage hopes that with programs like Freshman First, more students can be retained through graduation.
"On our campus there is a lot of research that shows we retain more sophomores, juniors and seniors than similar campuses," he said.
Armitage said research proves that if students use the tutoring center they will do much better with the difficult courses. However, most students don't take the initiative to go to the tutoring centers or there is a scheduling conflict with when they are open. The Freshman First program has a solution for that. Armitage said most students study later in the evening so tutors are put in the dorms. Students can walk down the hall and get help with their studies.
"The majority of undergraduates who live on campus and are committing and getting involved and with that there is a greater sense of urgency to make good grades and keep things going," Armitage said.
"Our plan was, instead of making freshmen go out and find all this stuff, we'll bring it to them and just hit them with it," Armitage said. "Freshman First is like academic warfare, bombarding students with opportunities to be successful."
Armitage said it's still their responsibility to do it but the program makes it easier for them.
From academic initiatives like the A-Tank, where students can win prizes for earning As on assignments, to Frosh Camp and Frosh Frenzy, freshman are given opportunities to learn what it takes to be successful and organized members of a University community.
"There should be no reason why they fail unless they don't put forth the work," Armitage said.
So what about commuters, which most of The University of Memphis student body is made of?
Often many of the issues associated with students withdrawing or dropping out involve commuting students.
Armitage makes some suggestions to keep commuters and all freshmen on campus and into the graduating ranks.
He said first and foremost students have to focus on grades. Secondly he said, get involved and be a part of what is happening on campus. Find out about programs, tutoring centers and counseling. Armitage also suggested students make new friends and show up for events on campus.
Armitage recommends students, get a job on campus right away so work and money won't be a conflict. There are numerous jobs available all over campus. The Student Employment and Financial Aid offices can help students locate employment opportunities.
"It's easy to get distracted by your job, relationships, family and money,"
Armitage said. "You have to be engaged in this community."
He recommends all students be very careful about putting their job before school. There are many consequences to not following through with one's studies.
Gerise Guy, graduate assistant at the Academic Status and Retention Center, works with students who are on academic probation or suspension.
"We basically work with students who are in academic jeopardy," Guy said.
"We're also responsible for the Academic Fresh Start program for students who had a bad semester or two or have been out of school. It is designed to help them start over and get back on track."
Students are put on academic probation when their cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0, the minimum required on the Academic Retention Scale at The University of Memphis. It is based on the number of quality hours a student has earned and their grade point average.
Guy said what often happens with students is they start having problems in class and don't communicate with anyone until the problem has come to a head. They wait until they are already on academic probation before they get help.
Guy said the Academic Status and Retention Center also works with students with high school deficiencies or transfer students.
"In many cases students are just not prepared for college," Guy said. "I think the primary thing students need to learn is focus. They don't have problems because they lack skills."
In some cases students are new to campus and are not going to class. A lot of students come in with grade point average issues or they have job conflicts and the job usually takes precedence over classes. It doesn't take long for them be frustrated with their classes.
If students realized the resources at their disposal and asked for help before they were really in trouble maybe they wouldn't give up on college.
Guy said many students feel that if they are doing poorly then something is wrong with their own abilities but usually it's just simple communication and study issues that need to be addressed.
"I would encourage all students to communicate with their professors," Guy said.
Guy also said how important it is for students to take advantage of the ESP (Educational Support Program), the tutoring centers in the Math and Foreign Languages building. They can also get help from the Academic Status and Retention Center before they are in trouble and learn how to manage their time and study properly. Sometimes that's all that needs to be done in order to build a student's self-esteem and reassure them that they can do well in college.
Guy said students often use the ESP for math and foreign languages but rarely use it for writing and English. A lot of times students don't realize they can usehelp for writing their papers.
Guy also suggests students find some classmates who have similar schedules and get a study group together. She said it helps build camaraderie and students don't feel like they have to do it all alone.
"Commuters feel like they are islands but there are other people on campus going through similar things," Guy said. "It's important to have a network in place. This center is open until 6 p.m. for students for that reason."
It's easy for students to get into the habit of just making their minimum grade in a class to keep from getting in academic trouble. Often there are students who maintain a 2.0 or a little higher and they're ok but by the time they get to their final semesters it catches up with them.
If a student keeps a minimum 2.0 GPA then happens to get a C minus or lower then they are in trouble.
"The more hours you earn you can't afford to make a slip at all," Guy said.
"A lot of times students go for the C because they know that is just enough but if you make a lower grade it can all backfire."
Guy said many new freshmen could quickly become these students on academic probation. She suggests students come to the Academic Status and Retention Center if they're having problems. She said the students need to be vocal and let people know they're having problems. "You want to hit the brakes before you reach the stop sign," Guy said.
