A popular question that is tossed around amongst those that are devoted to the field of higher education is “What makes students stay in college and earn their degree?” This question is one that those in higher education have to consistently revisit as student and faculty needs change from year to year. Dan Berrett, in an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, indicates that good teaching practices and exposure to diverse students is what keeps students coming back.
Research by Patrick T. Terenzini and Ernest T. Pascarella found that students valued teachers who were well organized, made good use of class time, and reviewed the subject matter. As the article indicates, these findings should serve as a breath of fresh air for professors as these skills can be enhanced with proper training. Additionally, the research indicated that students possess a strong desire to interact with others who come from various backgrounds. When students had the opportunity to make friends with a person from a different race, attend a diversity workshop, or interact with others from different religious or political views they are more likely to remain at their current institution.
If diversity is what all students are looking for then American higher education just might be in luck. Beth McMurtrie, in an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, reports that enrollments of new international students at American graduate universities grew 8 percent this fall. However, most of the students who factored into the growth came from one country, China. Although institutions are happy to enroll international students it would be advantageous to have students from various backgrounds. The article sheds some optimism for the future of U.S. institutions reporting that people of both China and the Middle East have the demand and the means to pursue higher education and students are choosing to come to the Unites States to complete their education.
As an aspiring professor it’s reassuring to know that basic teaching skills play a vital role in reaching students. Although it is important to stay current with the literature in the field of study it’s good to know that time spent learning classroom management and organization will pay off. For quite some time I have been aware how valuable diversity is to a college campus. However, I had no idea that it was so vital for “student success” and retention. It’s uplifting knowing that international students are choosing to come to the United States to pursue their education. I wonder what institutions can do to recruit and encourage students from other countries to come to the United States? I trust that this will not only be a valuable experience for these students but would enhance the number of students who earn their graduate degrees
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