Advising to Retain Students in the New Millennium

• In Event: Rethinking Traditional Notions to Improving Practices in Criminal Justice Education

Abstract

The issue of student retention and graduation are at the forefront of most universities. Many higher education governing bodies have begun to place as much emphasis on graduating students in no more than four years as they once did with retaining them indefinitely. To address the concerns of Criminology and Criminal Justice majors at the programmatic level, focus groups of seniors in a capstone class were conducted over a period of three years. Results from the study indicated a need to alter the advising strategy for students. Thus, a professional advising model was developed in an effort to improve retention and graduation. Focus groups were conducted for three years following the revised structure. Results from these efforts are discussed.

Authors

• Shannon Barton, Indiana State University

• Travis A. Behem, Indiana State University

• Jonathon Burns, Indiana State University