U Kentucky Re-Enrolls 200 Students Identified through Hobsons Retention Service

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 07/28/08

When University of Kentucky administrators implemented Hobsons Student Retention Solutions last semester, they didn't foresee the re-enrollment of 200 former students, potentially equating to more than $1 million in tuition returns.

"This administration is serious about keeping our students and making sure they get through to graduation," said Nikki Tarrant-Hoskins, UK's director of retention and student success. "Our partnership with Hobsons has made it easy to communicate with students that have dropped out or are at-risk."

Using the service from Hobsons, the 27,000-student public university streamlined its student retention by channeling information from the admissions, financial aid, bursar, and registration offices into a Web-based program, identifying students who are on the brink or have already left school and sending targeted communication. The goal: to reduce attrition.

"Our Hobsons representative showed us how to contact hundreds of lapsed students," Tarrant-Hoskins said. "We've informed them about a new piece of legislation that allows $2,000 more per year in financial aid for undergraduates and have urged them to take advantage of a streamlined re-admission protocol. These incentives have led to the re-enrollment of over 200 students to our institution."

The retention program lets school advisors and administrators monitor student progress and communicate issues of concern to students. For example, the program can direct students to an advisor or tutor before official grades are reported, increasing their chance of success. UK can also use the program to let students know about any upcoming changes to financial aid to help them avoid "funding panic."