Reflecting a nationwide trend aggravated by the pandemic, student retention has decreased at a number of CSU campuses—particularly among students of color. Of the 34,671 underrepresented minority (URM) students who enrolled fall 2019 across the CSU, 9,600 were not enrolled for their third year. This constitutes a 28% attrition rate among URM students after three years and continuing this trend will make it virtually impossible to close equity gaps. Based on fall 2021 preliminary data, the campuses listed below numerically show the most significant URM student attrition from the fall 2019 cohort. Identifying and implementing effective outreach to students who have departed, with a specific focus on students of color, Pell grant recipients and first-generation students, will need to be prioritized. Each CSU campus is charged to initiate aggressive re-enrollment campaigns incorporating all available strategies, including considering an increase in staff capacity and investment in technology. In addition, campuses should consider what resources will be needed to ensure retained students are positioned for success with the support of advisement and other student services.
CSUCI is focused on the following activities to move this initiative forward:
- Re-enrollment campaigns: a team of individuals are focused on targeted outreach to students who chose to disenroll to better understand how we can serve them.
- Surveys and data analysis is conducted to gather information from students that chose to disenroll.
- Whenever possible, partnered with the student to determine if re-enrollment is an option.
- Partnered cross departmentally to help students resolve challenges, whenever possible.