Retention and graduation have become major issues for the academy, as higher education finds itself under increasing scrutiny from governments, the media, consumers, and the courts. All are concerned with achieving greater diversity and access while controlling costs but not sacrificing quality--a seeming impossibility. This volume presents some of the best policies, practices, and procedures found in proven programs to achieve such goals, from both a national and a case study perspective. These chapters examine the topics from the perspective of majority-serving institutions (MSIs), tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The focus is on a practical, proven set of ideas and practices to assist practitioners in all types of institutions to achieve the goals of their own insitutional and retention frameworks. The contributors emphasize that the key to successful retention and graduation lies in the professional commitment of the faculty and staff to these student-centered efforts, and they show how this can be accomplished through the programs under review. The volume also offers a practical set of resources, including Web sites and other electronic and print resources, to help practitioners learn about and adopt better practices. This is the 125th issue of the Jossey-Bass quarterly higher education report series New Directions for Institutional Research.

Author Biography

Gerald H. Gaither is director of institutional effectiveness, research, and analysis at the Prairie View A&M University campus of the Texas A&M University System.