USD Responds to retention issues with MAP-Works

"It's freshman year and you're going to be here for the next four years." These aren't just Taylor Swift's catchy lyrics. These words also express the presumed thoughts of current freshmen finishing their first semester at USD. But is sticking around truly what is on their minds? Is retention an issue for USD?
The answer is yes, according to Merrick Marino, assistant dean of students for Student Learning Initiatives. USD's retention rate is 85 percent for freshmen. "That rate is not bad," Marino said. "But when you compare it to other comparable universities, it is on the lower end. It is just not where we want it to be."
Some other comparable peer institutions are Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara and Villanova. The university's plan for improving the retention rate lies in a software program called MAP-Works.
According to map-works.com, "MAP-Works was developed through a partnership between Ball State University and Educational Benchmarking. The result is the web-enabled next generation of Ball State's innovative program, Making Achievement Possible. MAP-Works is an innovative approach to improving students' transition to the college environment."
The MAP-Works system begins when faculty and peers encourage freshman students to take a 200-question survey, mostly focusing on the transition to college life. It addresses social aspects, academic aspects, financial aspects, etc. Upon completing this survey, the student receives a self report which is how they compare with other USD freshmen in terms of their transition.
The results are shown in the form of a video, where students are driving and take pit-stops, which portray their goals and various aspects of their move to the university atmosphere.
A student's survey and report are also available to their Resident Assistants, Preceptor, Preceptorial Assistant and Community Director. In this way MAP-Works acts as an early warning system. Based on survey results, MAP-Works identifies students who are "at risk" or who have an intent to leave the university.
Stephanie Bernasconi, assistant director of Center for Student Success; Jim Gump, associate dean of the College of
Arts and Sciences and Marino are the faces behind the implementation of MAP-Works at USD.
"The first step taken to address retention was the creation of the preceptorials in 1973 and then came the Preceptorial Assistants. These components of a freshman's life allow the university to be more active in knowing if and why they are retaining or not retaining freshman," Gump said.
"But Preceptors and PAs are hit or miss when it comes to identifying problems; we needed something more systematic. MAP-Works is that addition to this initiative because it allows a more precise way to learn about retention."
Gump gave the example of a student who has not shown up to a class for 2 weeks, "through the MAP-Works system a reason may be concluded and it allows for facilitation between advisors for intervention."
Preceptors, Community Directors, RAs and PAs are extensively trained on how to use the program. Student leaders such as RAs and PAs can only see areas of the report that are relevant to them. For example, PA's can see responses to some academic performance questions and RA's can see responses to some questions about community living in the residence halls.
Comments regarding specific experiences with a freshman can be posted through this program to be seen only by those connected to that freshman. When asked if there had been inappropriate posting, such as an RA posting something that perhaps the student may not want their Preceptor to know, Marino said "There is the option to identify personal notes so this problem could be eliminated. Also, this has to be looked at as ‘growing pains' of the first year this program has been in action."
"As MAP-Works is new, mistakes will be made but kinks are to be expected in anything new. We also experienced problems with RAs saying the survey was mandatory instead of voluntary which we identified and addressed right away," he said.
Freshman RA Clay Elkin, agrees to an extent with Marino. "Theoretically it is a great program. The practicality of it is still being evaluated. We really need to see if there were any great improvements from last year to determine how well it has worked," he said.
"It is ethical. We are trained representatives/employees of the University and know how to deal with sensitive information. I am not aware of any misuse."
On the other hand, some student leaders have not had such a fair experience with MAP-Works. "As a PA, I was appalled at some of the personal details provided by RAs about my freshmen. The whole system strikes me as an invasion of student privacy," junior Anne Slagill said. Moreover in terms of literal mechanics, Kaitlyn Howell, another PA, said "There are some problems with properly using the program as it can sometimes be confusing."
Bernasconi's , Marino's, and Gump's goal is to be at a 90 percent retention rate in three years. Though, it is too early to tell whether it has been effective or not, the rate of freshman living on campus who filled out the survey was 100  percent, which allows a start for the future of this program at USD. It remains to be seen whether this program can help administrators meet their retention goals.