VCU Discovery Program honored with national award

VCU Communications & Public Relations

Virginia Commonwealth University will receive a Lee Noel and Randi Levitz Retention Excellence Award this week for the success of its Discovery Program for Undeclared Students.

The award recognizes innovative campus retention programs that have helped students accomplish their goals and persevere through graduation. VCU will receive the honor on July 16 at the annual National Conference on Student Recruitment, Marketing and Retention in Chicago.

VCU’s Discovery Program, which is part of University College, provides specialized advising for students who are undecided about their major. The program helps students consider their educational options and make choices based on personal interests, skills and abilities, values and professional goals.

Discovery Program advisers maintain regular contact with advisees throughout the academic year, providing assistance in multiple areas of campus life and guiding students through a deliberate decision-making process and individual action plans. The proactive advising program has allowed VCU to increase the first-year retention rate of undeclared students from 74.8 percent to 82 percent.

The Retention Excellence Awards Program was established by Noel-Levitz, a leading higher education consulting firm, in 1989 to honor outstanding achievements in student retention by colleges and universities in North America. Winners are selected by a national panel comprised of campus-based retention practitioners. Case studies of the winning schools are available at http://www.noellevitz.com/awards.