The Ithacan ∙
Thu rsday, M a r ch 7, 20 13
Volume 80 , Is s u e 2 1
College works to strengthen retention rate
Special series
ON COURSE FOR
CHINA
by sage daugherty staff writer
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Introducing Part One: Studying China the series Michael Tkaczevski staff writer
by kelsey o'connor editor in chief
Everyone has eyes on China as it gains momentum in the global market. While the United States and China become more intertwined, so too do Chinese and American students. Last year, there was a 23 percent increase in Chinese students studying in the U.S. and a 5 percent increase of American students studying in China. Beginning this week, The Ithacan is launching a three-part series about new China-related initiatives at the college, Chinese students on campus and the college’s presence in China.
Ithaca College has expressed a desire to prepare students academically for the new economic and political frontier of China, but it’s still a long way from helping students find success across the ocean. To prepare students Follow the series to capitalize on the and explore data opportunities of the at theithacan.org/ fastest-growing econ- the-china-series. omy in the world, the college is expanding Chinese language and history classes, professors across campus are organizing more studyabroad programs to China and the college’s IC 20/20 strategic plan outlines the creation of an Ithaca Center in China by 2020.
Lesson Learned Ithaca Freeskool teaches unconventional classes, page 13
design by emily fuller
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According to the IC 20/20 vision plan, the center will be established by 2014 and will be available to students who are interested from all schools by 2020. The exact nature of the center cannot be determined until Ithaca College and another Chinese college or university finalize an agreement, Marisa Kelly, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said. “We have a number of programs with very strong connections already in China, and we have particular educational links there, which we thought would be very valuable for our students,” Kelly said. Kelly said the educational links include the study-abroad programs organized by the schools of Health Sciences and Human Performance and
See china, page 4
Though Ithaca College exceeds the national average for retention, it can’t afford to rest yet. The ongoing issue of college affordability has the college continuing to work to retain students. According to data from the Office of Institutional Research, the college’s retention rate in 2009 was 86.4 percent, in 2010 83.4 percent, and in 2011 84.2 percent. This retention GARCIA said a committee rate is for students will collect data to who return for address retention. their second year. Recent findings from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems indicate that New York is 5th in the nation in terms of college retention rates, with a rate of 81.6 percent, which is slightly above the national average of 77.1 percent. To put the rates in perspective, California has the highest retention rate in the country at 84 percent, as opposed to Alaska with the lowest rate of 63.3 percent. But as the cost of higher education continues to rise, the college is looking at the many factors that cause students to leave the college, be they financial or academic reasons, and is looking for more ways to retain students. A committee chaired by David Garcia, the associate provost for business intelligence, was formed in the summer to investigate the retention rate of the college and collect data to better understand the student population. Garcia said the committee was formed to show that the college is committed to student success and is looking to focus on the ways in which more students can flourish on campus. He said he came to the job of associate provost in June and that the timing of the committee formation was linked to the start of his new role at the college. The committee will continue to develop and collect data beyond the 201213 academic year and is charged with watching over the college’s retention and graduation rates. Garcia said the committee is made of people who represent the campus comprehensively, including faculty, administrators and staff from residential life and student affairs. Garcia said it is not surprising that the college would outperform national averages, given the quality of the institution, and that the college aspires to have one of the top retention rates. Garcia acknowledged that students leave for different reasons, such as changing academic goals, financial
See retention, page 4
Dirt damage
aid the dream
Construction in the Hill Center raises concerns with teams, page 23
Undocumented students must have access to aid for college, page 10
f ind m or e onl ine. www.t heit hacan.org