Date of Award
2002
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Susan A. Torbenson
Keywords
administration, administrative staff, assessment, College of DuPage, committee, Continuous Quality Improvement, criteria, data collection, diversity, effectiveness, evaluation, evaluation instrument, focus groups, formative committee, inclusion, international students, International Student Service Center, interactions, literature review, marketing services, programs, recommendations, recruitment, retention, retention programs, services, staff training, student retention, summative committee, website updates
Abstract
The problem was, administrative staff at College of DuPage did not know if international students are satisfied with the retention programs and services offered them at College of DuPage. The purpose of this study was to assess students' ratings of importance, and obtain ratings of the effectiveness of programs and services designed to increase student retention. Based on the findings of this evaluation, recommendations to improve the retention focused programs and services were developed. The research question for this study was: What are the international students' ratings of importance and effectiveness concerning the programs, services, and interactions offered to increase retention of international students? Procedures were implemented, including a review of the relevant literature; the
selection of both a formative and summative committee to establish and validate criteria, an evaluation instrument for data collection, and to validate a report that was submitted to college administration.
Recommendations presented include: the college administration to guide their staff members to better market services to international students; developing an on-going diversity and inclusion training program for college staff; ensuring the International Student Service Center is fully staffed and evaluated using the college's Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) process. Administrators should also ensure that the college website is updated with information pertinent to international students; and further study should be conducted, via focus groups, to explore the details of the data presented in this study, as well as gathering information on what other services could be added to increase retention, or recruit new international students.