Best Practices: “Stop Outs” Are Invited Back to Complete Their Studies
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Best
Practices: “Stop Outs” Are Invited Back to Complete Their Studies
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By Sherry Rhyno and Anna Tarquinio
Nearly 500 undergraduates who left the university in good academic standing prior to completing their degree requirements are readmitted every semester. We call this the return of the “stop out,” a student who has taken a leave of absence and then returned to complete university study.
Approximately one third of all of our graduated students have “stopped out” at one time or another, staying away for one or more semesters. Some return after determining a new course of study or career interest. Re-admitted students are attracted by the desire to complete their studies, as well as by our quality academic programs, accessible faculty, flexible options, and the support services.
Each semester, the Office of Enrollment Marketing and Information Services mails an information packet and a personalized letter to “stop outs.” The mailing includes an invitation to rejoin the university, information on the “how to’s” of returning, a current schedule of courses booklet, a deadline notice, and a waiver of the re-admission application fee.
The university readmits students in good standing, with a minimum 2.0 GPA, until the last day of the add/drop period. The process of updating a student’s file, assigning a pin number, and completing a transcript or degree audit typically takes about five minutes.
Once readmitted, the student makes an appointment with an academic adviser, either in his or her major department or in the University Advising Center. When a student begins the process early, the advisor can conduct a thorough evaluation of the student’s academic record and review any curriculum or graduation requirement changes that may have gone into effect since the student left the university. This can be especially important when the student is deciding on a new major. Re-admitted students meet briefly with an advisor on a walk-in basis right before classes begin and during the add/drop period, but they are advised to make an appointment for an in-depth advising session for more thorough review and discussion.
Re-admitted students have expressed their gratitude for being contacted by the university and invited to return with information on how to do so at no additional charge. Receiving the schedule of courses booklet is also a plus; they say it provides concrete information on when a re-admitted student would take new classes.
The idea for this best practice came out of activities generated by the University Retention Committee a few years back under the leadership of Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Kathy Teehan, Registrar David Cesario, and former Associate Provost Patricia Davidson. Since then, we have taken related measures to revise the schedule of courses book and expand touch-tone and web registration information.