Retention issues have become increasingly important in higher education since the 1980’s when retention rates began to decline) (Postsecondary Education Opportunity, 2002). Since then, schools have put their emphasis upon student persistence and preventing attrition (dropout). Considering that approximately 40% of students leave higher education, both public and private, without getting a degree, the emphasis is well put. (Horn & Carroll, 1996). After all, student attrition not only hampers the student’s success, but affects a college’s bottom line.

Since more than half of all students who withdraw, do so at the end of the freshman year, the first year continues to be a vital time in a student’s college education. (Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange, 1999). As a result of this phenomenon, many schools now offer extensive and comprehensive first-year and freshman experience programs.

During the first year, it is imperative to integrate students both academically and socially. Dr. Tinto, a popular retention theorist, made this a central theme in his retention model (Tinto, 1975). After studying and distinguishing many reasons for student departure, he found that students need academic integration i.e. to feel a sense of personal development from what they are learning independent from the teacher’s marks. He also found that students need to gain a sense of social integration not only with peers, but with educators and staff or anyone in their realm of influence.

How can StudentKeys help retain students?