In this short gem of a book, Alan Seidman presents a practical, comprehensive, and integrated process for successfully addressing student retention at the institutional level. It is highly recommended reading for administrators and policy makers at all institutions concerned with retaining students. -- Ernest Pascarella, professor and Mary Louise Petersen Chair in Higher Education, University of Iowa Among all of the topics studied in the field of higher education, retention of students remains one of the most perplexing. Countless numbers of initiatives and special programs including learning communities, boot camps and co-requisite courses have aided some students but failed many. To shorten the path to graduation, colleges offer accelerated learning models and dole out generous dual enrollment credits while four-year graduation rates plummet. Colleges have even gone so far as to literally flip their classrooms and provide blended instruction while doggedly pursuing technology to intervene in solving the retention enigma; yet retention problems linger.
In this unique book Seidman trades research jargon for common sense approaches aimed at practitioners; the people with the ability to affect change. I applaud Seidman's approach of providing "cases in point" to illustrate the most important aspects of the book. Everything is presented in understandable segments. I proudly support disseminating Seidman's student success formula and steps to success to promote crossing the finish line. -- Linda Serra Hagedorn, PhD, professor and Associate Dean, College of Human Sciences, Iowa State University