Faculty senate unanimously passed four action items on the agenda Feb. 10.
One action item was a the Endorsement of Retention Statement from Retention Committee.
Auburn is tied with the University of Alabama with both freshmen and 6-year graduating student retention, with respective percentages of 85 and 64 percent.
In order to have effective retention increase, it requires the support of every part of the University, said Jeffrey Fergus, chair of Retention Committee.
"Staff has responsibility, faculty do and students do as well," Fergus said.
Key components in keeping the responsibilities distributed accordingly will be communication and cooperation among all areas of the University.
Faculty and staff can communicate to students in learning communities, which teach incoming freshman what may be encountered at Auburn.
The UNIV 1000 level classes have freshmen retention of 90.5 percent, Fergus said.
Supplemental instruction also adds to the percentage of retention.
The average test scores from classes that offer SI are four to seven points higher than the average tests scores from non-SI classes, Fergus said.
The motion passed enabling students to meet high academic standards through the cooperative efforts of faculty, staff and students.
There are 12 colleges and schools at Auburn University so the Faculty Research Committee undergoes a rotation schedule with three-year terms.
"We meet monthly and some colleges are being left out," said Bruce Smith, chair of the Faculty Research Committee.
Constance Relihan, chair of Auburn Connects Common Book Program and senior associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Liberal Arts, supported Fergus' goals for higher retention percentages.
"This program, which we are calling Auburn Connects, the Common Book Program, comes out of all of this emphasis on student retention," Relihan said.
The idea is to give students a visualization of as many things as possible, all in one book. "Three Cups of Tea" by
Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is the first idea for a Common Book.
Books will be used or abused and if criticized too much, Auburn Connects will issue a new text for students to read, Relihan said.
Other topics of discussion for this meeting included remarks and announcements from the University President's office and Senate Chair, a report on the 2009 and 2010 administrator survey, recommendations concerning final exams and Rules Committee nominations.
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