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Retention is the art of holding on to students, making sure they stay in college.  It’s a serious matter for all of us.  It remains the topic of many learned conversations.  Millions are spent each year on retention. 
Each minute of the day, hands are wrung in worry over how to maintain enrollment; how to grow, how to build a campus climate that’s warm and welcoming; how to make sure new students know how to use campus resources.
John Baker, San Diego Mesa College
 

Thomas Angelo, associate professor and coordinator of the Higher Learning program at the University of Miami, Coral Gables, describes 10 research-based guidelines that “can help us understand and improve assessment, teaching, and learning.”  Angelo proposes students learn more when they:
1. Are actively engaged in their academic work
2. Set and maintain high but realistic expectations and goals
3. Provide receive, and make use of regular, timely specific feedback
4. Become aware of their own ways of learning, so they can better monitor and direct their energies and efforts
5. Become explicitly aware of their values, beliefs, preconceptions, and prior learning ?and are willing to unlearn when necessary 
6. Become explicit, meaningful connections in their learning
7. Look for real world applications of what they’re learning 
8. Work regularly and productively with faculty
9. Work regularly and productively with students
10. Invest as much engaged time and high quality effort as possible in their academic work

Adapted from Recruitment and Retention in Higher Education, June 1998.