Professional Development Solutions for Higher Education

Student retention is essential for an institution's financial stability, academic reputation, and student success outcomes. Poor retention rates can signal trouble to local boards, state bodies, and accrediting agencies while negatively impacting students' social mobility. Completing a degree increases a student’s job prospects and lifetime earnings, making retention efforts critical.

 

High-quality academic advising, success coaching, and faculty advising play a central role in improving retention.

 

Programs like academic advisor certifications, success coach training, student affairs leadership training, and faculty advising courses equip staff with tools to help students succeed. Experts like Habley have called academic advising the “hub of the campus wheel,” emphasizing its connection to nearly every department. Tinto agrees that strong retention programs place advising and coaching at the heart of retention strategies.

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Charlie Nutt, former Executive Director of NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) wrote “It is the people who come face-to-face with students on a regular basis who provide the positive growth experiences for students that enable them to identify their goals and talents. The caring attitude of college personnel is viewed as the most potent retention force on a campus”.  . ​

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“It is the people who come face-to-face with students on a regular basis who provide the positive growth experiences for students that enable them to identify their goals and talents. The caring attitude of college personnel is viewed as the most potent retention force on a campus” 

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For academic advising and success coaching to drive retention, they must prioritize understanding students’ goals, building rapport, and creating collaborative, trust-based relationships. Practices that encourage self-disclosure, engagement, and goal commitment lead to higher retention and graduation rates.

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Coaching and advising professional development from DC Education Group—like certifications in academic advising, success coaching, and student affairs leadership—helps staff and teams improve retention and student outcomes. DC Education Group offers tailored training that equips employees and leaders with skills in communication, inquiry-based coaching, mental health awareness, and goal setting, providing an exceptional return on investment for institutions committed to student success.

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