UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS HOSTS RETENTION CONFERENCE IN LITTLE ROCK

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Making sure that students finish what they start—by graduating—is one of the primary objectives of virtually every higher education institution in Arkansas. To help administrators meet that challenge, the University of Arkansas will host the second Arkansas Higher Education Retention Conference at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock, October 8-10.

The conference, entitled "Beyond Theory: Retention Strategies in Action," will focus on:

• Developing of strategies to improve retention
• Networking and building relationships with other institutions
• Identifying and increasing awareness of available resources
• Exchanging best practices from around the state
• Identifying barriers and needs at institutional and state levels

Keynote speakers include Betsy Barefoot and John Gardner, co-directors of the Policy Center on the First Year of College in Brevard, North Carolina.

"It is encouraging that the University of Arkansas is leading a statewide effort to identify the most effective ways to improve undergraduate retention in the state," Chancellor John A. White said. "We have enlisted the help of the some of the foremost experts in the field of education, specifically dealing with first-year experience programs and retention. We can all benefit from their guidance."

Prior to joining the Policy Center, Barefoot spent 11 years as co-director for Research and Publications at the University of South Carolina’s National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, where she conducted ongoing research on the first-year seminar in American higher education and edited a variety of publications on the first-year experience. She currently advises institutions worldwide on strategies and assessment of first-year programs.

In addition to co-founding the Policy Center, Gardner founded the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina. He is the recipient of numerous awards including American College Personnel Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the "John N. Gardner Inspirational Faculty Award" from the University of South Carolina and seven honorary doctoral degrees, recognizing him for his contributions to American higher education.

The First Year Experience is a collaborative effort designed to create a personal support structure around each first-year student at the University of Arkansas. It provides transitional support for incoming students and contributes to student success through a variety of academic and co-curricular activities. The First Year Experience helps students to better understand themselves, motivates students to become intellectually engaged, and helps students create a strong bond to the institution.

"Within the University of Arkansas, the mission of the Division of Student Affairs is to provide programs and services to promote academic success and student development," said Johnetta Cross Brazzell, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. "We are excited to host this retention conference and participate in the exchange of best practices regarding student success with educators and administrators throughout the state. This conference is possible thanks to generous support from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. We are grateful to the Foundation for their leadership and vision to positively impact higher education within the state of Arkansas."

The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation provided a $42,000 grant to the University of Arkansas in 2002 to support the development of the second Arkansas Higher Education Retention Conference. In 2000, the University received a $67,500 grant from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation to support planning activities for its First Year Experience Program. One of the activities supported through the 2000 grant was the creation of the first Arkansas Higher Education Retention Conference, which was held in Fayetteville in October 2000.

In 1974 the Trustees of Governor Winthrop Rockefeller’s Estate endowed the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation to continue the work of the Rockwin Fund. Governor Rockefeller setup the Rockwin Fund in 1954 and, on an annual basis from 1956 until his death in 1973, funded projects and programs he believed were important to improving the quality of life in Arkansas.

The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation whose mission is to improve the lives of Arkansans by funding programs and projects that improve education; economic development; and economic, racial, and social justice. During the past 28 years the Foundation has awarded over $62 million in grants.

Additional information about the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation can be found on its website, http://www.wrfoundation.org/.