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http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...0314/1001/NEWS
Freshman performance
The report also focused heavily on freshman performance at the six public universities.
Black Hills State University in Spearfish ranked first among the six public universities with the highest percentage of full-time freshmen - 98.5 percent, or 268 of 272 - who planned to receive a four-year degree.
South Dakota State University followed with 97.7 percent (616 of 669); South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 92.4 percent (182 of 197); University of South Dakota, 92.1 percent (616 of 669); Dakota State University, 88.4 percent (190 of 215); and Northern State University, 75.3 percent (170 of 226).
SDSU rated first in retention of freshmen for spring semester 2006 and the 2005-06 school year at 93.7 percent and 94.1 percent, respectively.
President Peggy Miller said students are recruited to help them reach their academic goals, so support services begin when they arrive. She cited the Career Advising and Placement Center, which provides academic help, peer counseling, regular adviser meetings, orientation and cohort groups that allow students with similar academic interests to live on the same floor in residence halls.
SDSU also is working to place disabled student services, writing and math clinics, peer tutoring and counseling under one roof with an expanded Success Center, Miller said.
"We believe some students do not know what kind of help to ask for when they are beginning to struggle in class," she said. "If they got some coaching before they were really in trouble, then they very likely would succeed."
Black Hills State scored last in retaining freshmen, at 82.7 percent and 83.1 percent, respectively.
Kristi Pearce, enrollment services dean for Black Hills State, attributed those numbers to the school having the highest number of nontraditional students in the state system. Adult students are more likely to take fewer credit hours.
Improving retention
Schools in the mid-range - USD and Dakota State - are working to improve freshmen retention efforts.......
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...0314/1001/NEWS
Freshman performance
The report also focused heavily on freshman performance at the six public universities.
Black Hills State University in Spearfish ranked first among the six public universities with the highest percentage of full-time freshmen - 98.5 percent, or 268 of 272 - who planned to receive a four-year degree.
South Dakota State University followed with 97.7 percent (616 of 669); South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 92.4 percent (182 of 197); University of South Dakota, 92.1 percent (616 of 669); Dakota State University, 88.4 percent (190 of 215); and Northern State University, 75.3 percent (170 of 226).
SDSU rated first in retention of freshmen for spring semester 2006 and the 2005-06 school year at 93.7 percent and 94.1 percent, respectively.
President Peggy Miller said students are recruited to help them reach their academic goals, so support services begin when they arrive. She cited the Career Advising and Placement Center, which provides academic help, peer counseling, regular adviser meetings, orientation and cohort groups that allow students with similar academic interests to live on the same floor in residence halls.
SDSU also is working to place disabled student services, writing and math clinics, peer tutoring and counseling under one roof with an expanded Success Center, Miller said.
"We believe some students do not know what kind of help to ask for when they are beginning to struggle in class," she said. "If they got some coaching before they were really in trouble, then they very likely would succeed."
Black Hills State scored last in retaining freshmen, at 82.7 percent and 83.1 percent, respectively.
Kristi Pearce, enrollment services dean for Black Hills State, attributed those numbers to the school having the highest number of nontraditional students in the state system. Adult students are more likely to take fewer credit hours.
Improving retention
Schools in the mid-range - USD and Dakota State - are working to improve freshmen retention efforts.......