UK receives NASPA Gold Award for student retention efforts
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 28, 2025) — The University of Kentucky’s Weekly Retention Meetings have been selected as the Gold Award Winner in the Assessment, Persistence, Data Analytics and Related Category by NASPA, an organization for student affairs administrators in higher education. This prestigious recognition underscores the university’s commitment to using data-driven strategies to improve student retention and success.
NASPA is the professional home for the field of student affairs. NASPA places students at the center of its work, serving the field through exceptional professional development, research to take on its biggest challenges, advocacy for inclusive and equitable practices and communities and nurturing networks and pipelines to mentor, rejuvenate and support all student affairs professionals and students. Excellence Awards recognize the contributions of members who are transforming higher education through outstanding programs, innovative services and effective administration.
The Weekly Retention Meetings began as a grassroots effort in the conference room of Miller Hall, spearheaded by Kirsten Turner, vice president for student success and chief student affairs officer, and Todd Brann, executive director of institutional research. These early meetings were an essential step toward creating a collaborative space where a diverse group of voices could come together to analyze data, identify trends and develop real-time interventions to support students.
“I was invited to join shortly after the initial meetings began, and I was truly blown away by the opportunity to be at the table with so many dedicated individuals, all working to make immediate, impactful decisions for our students,” said Molly Reynolds, associate vice president for student excellence. “That focus on students remains at the core of these meetings, even as they have evolved and expanded over the years.”
While the original meetings took place in Miller Hall, the physical presence of a blue chair at the table remains a symbolic reminder of the meeting’s mission: putting students first. The chair represents the voice of students and ensures that all discussions and decisions at the table prioritize their needs and well-being.
Today, the Weekly Retention Meeting has grown beyond its humble beginnings. The meeting now regularly involves up to 300 attendees, with 70 to 80 participants attending each week from across the university. These meetings have moved to larger spaces such as the Gatton Student Center and the Rosenberg Law Building, reflecting the continued growth and importance of the initiative.
Each meeting follows a structured agenda. The first segment presents and dissects data to identify trends related to student success and retention. The second section, “Data to Doing,” invites participants to brainstorm solutions and interventions based on the data presented. The final portion focuses on updating the communication calendar, ensuring everyone is aligned on next steps and upcoming initiatives.
“The Weekly Retention Meeting is my favorite part of the week. It’s an opportunity to engage with so many talented individuals and collaborate on strategies that will help our students thrive,” Reynolds said. “It’s a privilege to co-lead this initiative with Todd Brann under Dr. Turner’s leadership.”
UK’s ever-growing culture of evidence-based action and initiatives has contributed to record enrollment, graduation rates and retention, reflecting its commitment to advancing Kentucky. For the first time, UK’s preliminary fall enrollment was more than 36,000 students, a 7% increase over last year. Of that number, 25,774 are undergraduates, a 7.5% increase over the previous year. The first-year class of 6,571 is also a record high. UK’s six-year graduation rate is now more than 71% — another record that places the university among the top 100 public, four-year institutions in America. UK’s four-year graduation rate is now a little more than 60% — almost 30 percentage points higher than it was 15 years ago. Preliminary retention — the percentage of students returning for their second year at the university — also is a record 87.3%.
This recognition as the Gold Award Winner affirms the hard work, dedication and innovation of the Weekly Retention Meeting team, which remains steadfast in its mission to provide ongoing support for UK’s students.
For more information on student success efforts at the university, visit studentsuccess.uky.edu/.
At the University of Kentucky, students are at the center of all that we do. From the moment you become a Wildcat through graduation and beyond, the Office for Student Success is committed to supporting you. Comprised of five areas and 25 units, together, they have one vision — to help students live a life of meaning. Student Success works through an equitable, holistic and inclusive lens to design and deliver unparalleled services and support a diverse community of learners in achieving their wildest ambitions. In the Office for Student Success this is what we do — this is who we are. You can explore resources available to you here. If you have additional questions, you can reach a Student Success team member by calling the helpline 859-218-YouK (9685).