“It has become very clear that times are changing in higher education and that family members are now true partners in students’ journeys and we need to keep up with the times. How do we shift the narrative so that our partnership with parents isn't seen as just a partnership with parents and families, but rather a combative tone? We needed to transition to something more closely related to student success.”
Drexel University's Senior Vice President for Student Success, Dr. Subir Sahu, has a first-hand look at the changing expectations of university families and the positive impact their inclusion can have. After decades of educational institutions trying to banish “helicopter parents” from the conversation, today’s students and parents want a more inclusive and supportive experience.
When educational institutions embrace this and welcome families into the conversation, they do more than build community and help parents serve as students' most trusted advisors and supporters. Studies have shown that students are more likely to remain enrolled when parents receive updates on their students' progress.. On average, retention rates were 8.3% higher for students whose parents received these notifications.
Increased student retention through parent involvement
Sahu and Drexel have seen this impact firsthand.
“Just a few years ago, Drexel’s retention rate was less than 80%. We have really worked to create a culture of student success where family involvement is key. What we have tried to build culturally here at the institution is to center everything we do on the student experience. An important part of the student experience is the involvement of family members. That was one of the missing pieces that we really had to rely on.”
After expanding family communications, programming and engagement, Drexel's retention rate is now 89.5%. It is 4% higher for students whose families receive notifications about important topics such as financial holds and enrollment status.
Certain populations have the highest retention rates.
Studies have shown increased student retention rates for certain groups. at Duquesne University and Auburn University. The increase in retention rates for black and Hispanic students whose family members received these updates was significantly higher than for white students whose family members received the same information.
You might assume there would be higher retention rates for these groups, but if you look deeper, Hispanic students already have the highest retention rates at Duquesne (over 89%). and highest gain.
“The reality of families is that not everyone starts from the same starting point,” Sahu added. “Part of this work is creating a strong foundation for all students. That’s what we see in this data: a mechanism to provide solid information for family members to communicate with their students.”
The study examined two other key populations: Pell-eligible students. first generation student.
Drexel has many Pell-eligible students.
“We need to provide infrastructure so families can operate with good information,” Sahu said. “A student can call home and say, ‘I just experienced “You face those challenges.”
With the right information, parents can become influential advisors.
A worrying reality (especially for IT teams): 61% of parents have their student's college ID and password..
In a self-service world, families will find ways to get the information they feel they need to best support their students.
“Parents and families are already participating,” Sahu said. “We need to meet them where they are with the right elements and information so that together we can make the best decisions regarding our students.”
In fact, when sharing student records with parents, there is certain data that can be helpful from a retention perspective. Changes in financial aid details, holds, and student status may be associated with improved retention rates.
“When I was in college, the last thing I wanted was for someone to interact with my parents. And I was once one of those administrators who said that if you cut ties with parents, students will leave on their own,” Sahu admitted. “But times have changed, and so has higher education. Students' desires for what they are looking for in their experiences have also changed, and it is our duty as senior managers to evolve with the times. “It’s all about student success, and family members are an important part of that journey.”