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Improving Freshman Retention and Graduation Rates through a Two-Tier Tenure Track System

This Innovative Practice Work in Progress proposes that if the goal of institutions of higher education is to graduate students who are independent learners, then excellent teaching is as worthy of hire, promotion, and tenure as is scholarship. At NYIT, student retention is lowest in the first year. We believe that instructors who teach the freshman courses must be those who use the effective teaching practices associated with active learning or high impact teaching methodologies. At present, most of freshman courses are taught by adjunct faculty, who for a number of reasons, are unable to effectively engage students inside/outside of the classroom. As administrations are increasingly focusing on improving graduation rates then those factors that address freshman retention are essential to that goal. To meet this goal, our institution has created full-time Teaching Faculty Lines (TFLs). These new full-time faculty hires are expected to demonstrate quality teaching, dedication to undergraduate education, with an emphasis on freshman classes along with developing innovative teaching practices as a criterion for contract renewal. In anticipation of higher retention and graduation rates, this WIP will examine and assess those undergraduate courses, which are presently being taught by the adjunct faculty with similar courses being taught by these new TFLs. The expectation is that the results of this assessment will demonstrate that there is a concomitant increase in retention and graduation rates between these two groups. This will the basis for a two-path tenure track system.