In our quest to increase persistence and retention, we often spend all our efforts on the “murky middle” (Venit, 2015) or those that we know have a higher propensity to leave. Consequently, we neglect our “high fliers.” This can bite us if we are not careful. Make sure that with everything you do, you take time to praise the positive and recognize those students who do not require a lot of attention or consume many of your resources. Simple messages from Student Success Advisors or administrators recognizing increases in GPA, making the dean’s list, or getting a 4.0 GPA can go a long way. Moreover, by holistically getting to know your students, you can praise the other positive things that are occurring in their lives, like making the ballroom dance team, giving their first oral presentation, passing a difficult math test, or finally having the courage to ask that certain someone on a date. Praising the positive can serve as powerful nudges to help retain the high fliers.
