A few months ago I wrote a story about them at the three major universities state-wide. I searched my personal archives and pasted it below.
The College Board is helpful in getting retention rates, but 2002 is the most current year it has complete info rates.



MSU leads Ole Miss and USM in freshmen retention

Freshmen not going to class can expect a call at all three.

By ROBBIE WARD
Daily Journal Starkville Bureau

STARKVILLE – Freshmen who miss class at the three largest universities in the state can expect a call from reminding them that attending class is an important part of the college experience.
Mississippi State University, The University of Mississippi and The University of Southern Mississippi all have policies aimed at keeping freshmen from flunking out during their first year in college, one is reminding students that going to class increases their chances of higher grades and returning to school the following year.
“We’re putting a lot of emphasis on making sure freshmen don’t miss classes,” said David McMillen, coordinator of MSU’s Pathfinder program. “When they do they probably won’t do well in school.”
MSU led the three largest state-funded universities in freshmen returning back to school their sophomore year with 81 percent, according to 2002 statistics from the College Board. Ole Miss’ first year freshmen who came back for their sophomore year was 76 percent, while 71.8 percent returned to USM.
McMillen said MSU not satisfied with past freshment retention statistics and began searching for ways to help improve students returning to the university the following year. He said the strategies the university began weren’t scientific breakthroughs, just common sense.
“As soon as they have two absences we contact them and ask them to go to class,” McMillen said. “The message is always the same – your instructor is concerned because you’ve been missing class.”
McMillen said he and others at MSU didn’t find a connection with students’ high school grades and college entrance test scores with their success their first year in college. The biggest factor was whether students went to class.
“Certainly some people drop out later on but most attrition happens during the freshman year,” McMillen said.
MSU’s retention rates have climbed for the past three years, with 80.2 percent in 2000, and 80.6 percent in 2001.
Studies at MSU also showed that students who returned to the university the next year typically had higher grades.
While more freshmen are staying at MSU, an opposite trend has happened at USM during the same period, with 73.6 percent students returned in 2000, and 71.9 percent in 2001.
Wynde Fitts, director of the Freshman Year Experience at USM, the university is doing its best to convince students to come back the following year. Freshment at USM are also contacted by handwritten letter, e-mail or by telephone when they miss two classes.
“We try to step in and get them the assistance they need,” Fitts said. She also said the weekend before classes begin in the fall, freshmen participate in programs geared toward getting them involved in activities on campus.
“It’s a good kickoff to introducing students to everything they can possibly get into,” she said.
Retention rates at Ole Miss was 76.6 percent in 2000 and 74.1 percent in 2001. Charles Gates, director of the Academic Support Center at Ole Miss, said the university has no centralized office in charge of freshman retention, but different areas on campus work to lower freshman drop-out rates. Services on campus include an emphasis on advising students who haven’t declared majors, reminding freshmen when they’ve missed two classes.
Ole Miss and USM both offer classes freshmen can take to learn time management skills, better study habits, and better reading skills.