Reflecting on Retention

Student persistence is one of many indicators of a college's success. In Fall, we heavily emphasize retention of our first-year students as this is a critical transition time. We do this by hosting our CTAHR New Student Orientation which introduces new students, both high school and transfer students, to their new support team, including others in their cohort, faculty, alumni, and advisors. This event provides them the tools to be successful, examples include tutoring and emotional support services. Subsequently, the first-ever CTAHR internship fair served to provide professional experiences to students earlier on in their academic careers to provide them with the skills and training to qualify them for more advanced positions in their junior and senior years. 

For all our students, we continue to maintain the CTAHR student lounge. The pantry is still periodically stocked with food purchased with funds from Alumni Steve Sato and the goodies on the free shelf come and go. Donations of all sorts are continually welcomed and appreciated. New this Fall was the textbook bookshelf that allowed students to check out while in the lounge. Mahalo to the many recent alumni that donated their texts after graduating. CTAHR gave its blood drive a good old college try, resulting in a massive success for the Blood Bank of Hawaii. CTAHR banded together for the largest drive of the year for the campus. This demonstrates the good works provided by the college as a whole, from students to faculty to staff. 

Lastly, as we begin to revitalize our alumni engagement programs, the CTAHR Convocation is not only a celebration of the end of an academic journey, but it is the start of a new relationship with alumni. By providing a space to celebrate with our students, we not only recognize their achievements but take the first steps to solidify their connection with the college for the benefit of the next generation. Retention efforts must align with student timelines and require a multifaceted approach.