To achieve its mission to help students reach their full potential and become educated citizens and worldwide servant-leaders, the university must first retain its students. Therefore, the university pays careful attention to undergraduate retention rates, particularly the Freshman to Sophomore retention rate. The Retention and Student Success Subcommittee, part of the standing Enrollment Management Committee, sets yearly goals, evaluates outcomes, and creates improvement plans. The committee uses traditional IPEDS data for this process. Specifically, Enrollment Management, as described in the strategic plan, Acorns to Oaks, uses a university-wide initiative, Moving the Needle—Credo, to increase retention through professional development for faculty, enrichment of the first-year experience, and quality advising. In addition, the Enrollment Management committee sets and annually reviews the Freshmen to the Sophomore retention goal, which is currently an aspirational rate of 75% to be achieved by 2025 with a minimum threshold of 65%.
Carson-Newman University set an aspirational six-year graduation rate of 57% in 2020 with a minimum threshold of 47%. The Retention and Student Success Subcommittee, part of the standing Enrollment Management Committee, is responsible for setting yearly goals, evaluating outcomes, and creating improvement plans. The committee uses traditional IPEDs data for this process. Using IPED data allows for comparisons with similar institutions.
Carson-Newman University monitors Freshman Academic Pace, defined as the percentage of first-time freshmen who complete at least 24 credit hours during their first academic year, as an important indicator of student achievement and progress toward degree completion. Successfully earning 24 credit hours in the first year typically reflects consistent full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress across two semesters, demonstrating that students are maintaining momentum in their studies and developing the habits necessary for long-term academic success. Tracking freshman academic pace provides an early and meaningful indicator of whether students are successfully navigating the transition to college and staying on track academically. It also aligns closely with Carson-Newman University’s mission to help students reach their full potential and become educated citizens and worldwide servant-leaders. The Planning and Institutional Effectiveness (PIE) Committee has established a minimum threshold of 55% for this measure, slightly above the national average of approximately 51% of freshmen earning at least 24 credits during their first academic year. This threshold represents the minimum level of performance the university considers acceptable relative to national norms. In addition, the university has set a target goal of 65%, reflecting an institutional commitment to exceed national averages and continually improve student success outcomes. By tracking this metric, the university can identify opportunities to strengthen advising, academic support services, and student engagement initiatives that help students maintain academic momentum and achieve their educational goals.
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