FutureSTATE 2015
A strategy for Mississippi State University to become
the region's most respected land-grant institution
FutureSTATE 2015 Progress Reports
Spring 2008
ENHANCE STUDENT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Initiative: Expand the scope of the Pathfinders retention program to include upper classmen as well as freshmen. The program has had a significant positive effect on both retention and graduation rates.
Achievements of the past year:
Increased individual contact with sophomores and juniors concerning academic performance and registration was made. Emphasis was placed on encouragement and sources of academic assistance.
Goals for the next year:
Pathfinders will continue efforts to improve academic performance, retention, and gradation rates.
Constraints to full implementation of this initiative:
Obtaining accurate contact information for upperclassmen and freshmen is difficult because most students have cell phones rather than land based lines. In addition, most upperclassmen do not live in residence halls; therefore face-to-face contact cannot be made.
Proposed modification of the initiative:
None
Overall assessment of the status of the initiative or other comments:
Academic performance, retention, and gradation rates continue to increase at MSU. The average fall 2007 freshman GPA was 2.75. Retention to the sophomore year was 83.5% for the 2006 freshman class. Retention to the junior year was 70.8% for the 2005 freshman class. The six-year graduation rate was 58.4% for the 2001 freshman class.
