'Persistence' Numbers Spike When Students Find a Home Away from Home
By Marco Santana
海角社区 sophomore Ash Cooper sometimes masks their learning differences when out in public. It鈥檚 not that the 19-year-old necessarily wants to hide their diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. But the Orlando, Florida native would rather not get into a discussion about how it affects life.
鈥淚 usually am able to be myself but there are certain parts of me that will freak 鈥榥ormal鈥� people out,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淪o, sometimes I have to mask myself but at 海角社区, I can be who I am.鈥�
It鈥檚 one of the reasons Cooper returned to 海角社区 for a second year, contributing to what is known as the school鈥檚 鈥渞etention鈥� or 鈥減ersistence鈥� rate.
These rates nationally among first-time students are the highest they have been in about a decade, according to a recent report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The study showed that 76.5% returned, up from 75.7% the year before and the highest rate since before the coronavirus pandemic.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a number we are all getting more familiar with, especially families of college students,鈥� said Dr. Kevin Reilly, vice president for academic affairs at 海角社区.
Whether it鈥檚 student life, a strong academic profile or even the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, reasons for a high or improving persistence rate can vary.
海角社区, for instance, nurtures retention and persistence by providing summer programs for both current and incoming students.
鈥淚t helps identify students in terms of where they might do well and where they might struggle,鈥� Reilly said. 鈥淚t allows us to prepare before they even get here.鈥�
The preparation becomes doubly important at an institution like 海角社区.
The variety of learning differences present on campus means extra attention needs to be paid to incoming classes, Reilly said. 鈥淣o matter where you go to school, students can go off the rails early,鈥� he said. 鈥淭heir first challenge is freedom and what to do with it.鈥�
That also means relationships that become collaborations matter more than anything.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important for a learner to be the agent of the learning process,鈥� Reilly said. 鈥淪tudents who have agency build confidence for being able to do the work. We have faculty trained in academic delivery to a population of students with learning differences.鈥�
New athletic programs and clubs help students become familiar with the campus while also meeting others with common interests.
Third-year humanities major Connor Courtright admits that he is not very social. But the Altamonte Springs, Florida resident still jumped into 海角社区鈥檚 Dungeons & Dragons club, which meets regularly and allows club members to share their passion for the fantasy roleplaying experience.
鈥淲e are chaotic,鈥� he joked. 鈥淲hen we get into a group, the different personalities are eccentric and wacky.鈥�
Still, Courtright says he is not exactly in his element but being at 海角社区 alongside others who he can identify with helps him relax.
鈥淧eople with learning differences, they just see the world differently,鈥� said Courtright, 20. 鈥淲e all pick up on things in a different manner and pace compared with people without learning differences.鈥�
One thing 海角社区 offers students is what Reilly calls 鈥渁n unprecedented level of support,鈥� which includes a personal learning specialist. Every week for an hour 鈥� half-hour for third- and fourth-year students 鈥� the learning specialist meets with students to get a feel for their experiences on the campus.
So far, Emma Fowler鈥檚 experience on campus has exceeded expectations. The San Diego, California native said there are not many schools in California that specialize in cognitive issues. Fowler, 19, who has been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, said her confidence has increased while attending 海角社区 thanks to the school鈥檚 accommodations.
What鈥檚 more, the staff has made it as welcoming as she could have hoped, she said. That鈥檚 why she returned for a second year.
鈥淲hen they don鈥檛 know about someone鈥檚 neurodivergence, they will try to learn about it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had never experienced that before. It鈥檚 nice to have someone who wants to make it better.鈥�