Swansea: Don’t Drop Out, Drop In

Key Words: Support; Retention; Opportunity

Was the initiative introduced: Throughout the institution

Description/approach: Don’t Drop out Drop In is a initiative driven by the Students’ Union to ensure that students who are uneasy with the decisions they have made about joining University and the course they have chosen have the ability to air their concerns and see what other options are open to them. 

Publication materials – Posters, Flyers , Facebook , Twitter , Website 

It is inevitable that students will drop out of University however by creating students who are powered with knowledge and options are more likely to return to higher education later on in life if there leaving process is a positive one. 

Anticipated outcomes: Improved retention rates; enhanced culture of support/volunteering amongst students; wider pool from which to draw potential student representatives/SU officers 

Evidence of actual outcomes: An increase in students asking for advice through the Students’ Union. Down the line a exercise will be carried out to compare retention rates from previous years. 

Reflection/impact: The campaign focuses on creating informed students who are empowered with the decisions they have made.

In relation to the exercise in comparing retention rates there has been an external factor of the University of Wales which could have a effect on the retention of students due to SMU evolvement in the change within HE in Wales.