2020-21 Financial Review

VI. Discuss retention strengths and issues on your campus.

Retention Strengths

Mississippi University for Women has an established support system for students that includes, but is not limited to, counseling services, academic support (peer mentoring, online tutoring), accessibility & accommodations, and academic advising. Services are provided to students in both in-person and remote modalities. Key indicators for student retention and success are monitored by the Student Success Center and other entities at the institution in order to remove barriers as they occur. Over the past five years, the institution’s retention rates have improved and stabilized even in the midst of COVID-related challenges.

Challenges

Each year, a significant number of MUW’s incoming freshmen arrive with deficiencies in at least one core academic area (math, English or reading). The retention rates for students placed into the corresponding intermediate coursework is typically lower than those of student without those deficiencies. We offer a variety of supports and interventions for students in this category. There are also success gaps between minority and non-minority students and Pell vs. non-Pell eligible students, although the size of these gaps has not been consistent.

18