STEM Students should branch out and explore other school subjects see opinions, page 6
singles awareness day Post-Valentine’s
women’s basketball Rutgers snaps two-
see InSIDE BEAT, page 8
Day celebration calls for independence and self-love
game skid with road win versus Wisconsin
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Rutgers ranks nationally among college student retention rates Kelly Kim Staff Writer
U.S. News & World Report considers factors like first-year retention rate, graduation rate and selectivity, to determine its yearly ranking of the best schools in the nation. Rutgers—New Brunswick ranked number 69 in the most recent rating. The New Brunswick campus is above the national-average retention rate for beginning students, with 92 percent returning in 2018, according to the ranking. Although its retention rate is on the higher side, the University is making efforts to improve retention and mitigate withdrawal, said Courtney McAnuff, vice president for Enrollment Management. “Broadly, (the reasons students leave) can be classified into two groups — voluntary and nonvoluntary. Voluntary reasons are ‘I don’t like the campus,’ ‘(it is) much harder than I thought it would be.’ Involuntary reasons (are) family emergencies, even natural disasters. I’ve tried to identify the reasons, and financial aid is a big reason,” McAnuff said. He said that many families misjudge the cost of attending college, a phenomenon made apparent by the number of in-state students who transfer into Rutgers after their first year. More than 78 percent of students receive some form of aid, approximately $620 million received by undergraduate students alone, according to the Office of Financial Aid homepage. A lesser-known reason for students leaving is because of a standard
called the “satisfactory academic progress,” McAnuff said. If a student is attending school with assistance from a third-party financial source, such as a federal or state institution, the grade received in a paid-for class matters, he explained. If the student’s academic performance is not on par with the third-party’s progress standards, aid can be rescinded. He said that several hundred students a year leave the University because of failed financial aid eligibility. Retention rates also coincide with other factors, such as the location of where students are employed. McAnuff said students who work on campus tend to be retained at a higher rate. “If you work in an office like (the Office of Enrollment Management), you have some different mentors,” he said. “If you are struggling with a class or need help with registration, we can tell you who to go see. You have a whole different level of people who can help you. We also know you’re limited to 20 hours a week. (Outside employers) are not as flexible to the fact that you have final exams or other commitments. The off-campus work experience harms retention, while on-campus boosts retention.” McAnuff said the University utilizes the National Student Clearinghouse, an organization that tracks students’ outcomes, to view statistics on student retention and where students who transfer out are going. The University can analyze this data and discuss how to move forward with it.
Courtney McAnuff, vice president for Enrollment Management, said despite its high ranking the University is making strides to improve retention rates and mitigate student withdrawals during their first years at Rutgers. VIMEO Student sur veys are also conducted through third party means, and a recent study reported dissatisfaction with specific ser vices on campus, he said. One of the major complaints was the lack of centrism in financial ser vices, with many students highlighting the obstacle of getting assistance after constantly being referred to another office.
Erica D’Costa Associate News Editor
Erica D’Costa Associate News Editor
See skills on Page 4
Mobile applications are also being developed alongside this change in facility. He said the University has identified common questions that students have and have been working on a way to “digitize” the answers. “In theory, you will be able to solve most of your issues on your mobile device,” McAnuff said.
U. professor’s research looks at online dating
Online resource helps students with computer skills In a highly competitive job market, the School of Arts and Sciences provides its undergraduates with free access to a website called Lynda — an online resource that teaches students supplementary computer skills. The Lynda website is an online platform where specialized professionals and industry experts teach users the skills, software and essentials of a particular field. Video tutorials are available for beginners and more advanced students in hundreds of topics. Engaged
McAnuff said the University is currently planning to build a new student service facility across from the Busch Student Center. This center will consolidate multiple services across campus and offer assistance for any non-academic concerns. As a “one-stop shop” for various issues, the hope is to increase satisfaction and ultimately, student retention.
Hester Coan, the assistant director of Student Services for Career Services, said Lynda.com helps students stay updated on new software as they enter competitive job markets. RUTGERS.EDU
The elusive task of finding that special someone for Valentine’s Day now has an app. Modern day singles now utilize Tinder and services like it for easily accessible romance. Tinder usage in the United States is at its peak on Valentine’s Day, according to an article in Vanity Fair. The company reported in 2015, that beginning Feb. 6, there was a steady increase in usage of the app that resulted in a 15-percent increase on Valentine’s Day. Helen Fisher, chief scientific adviser to the dating site, Match.com, and a visiting professor in the Department of Anthropology analyzed the history of dating websites and apps in an interview with Rutgers Today.
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“In the beginning internet dating was regarded as for people who are failures at relationships. That changed into, ‘It’s OK, but not for me.’ These days, so many people do it, the stigma is gone,” she said. She said this year 40 percent of respondents to an annual survey she conducts, between 18 and 71, said they met their most recent date on the internet, while 25 percent and 6 percent met through a friend and bar or place of worship, respectively. Jennifer Theiss, associate professor of Communication, said that modern dating platforms are more about physical attraction than they are about matching people who want to get to know each other. “Now we have Tinder, Bumble See dating on Page 5