The University of Kansas
An Official Employee Publication From the Office of University Relations
Hawk Link retention program named one of the nation's best
A KU program designed to recruit and retain students
of color recently was named one of the most successful programs of its
kind by one of the nation’s leading higher education consulting
firms.
The Hawk Link program was one of three retention programs nationwide recognized
by Noel Levitz, an operating division of Sallie Mae, with the Retention
Excellence Award at the National Conference on Student Retention in Washington,
D.C.
Robert Page, director of multicultural affairs at KU and head of Hawk
Link, said the program was so successful because it collaborated with
a number of services across the KU campus, including the Freshman-Sophomore
Advising Center, the Office of Admissions and Scholarships, the Office
of Student Financial Aid and many others.
The Hawk Link program is in its fourth year; it currently has 175 student
members.
Page said the unique program differs from other retention programs because
of components such as its strong faculty mentorship program, free tutoring
and an early alert system that checks the grades of Hawk Link students
midway through each semester.
Below: Robert Page, second from left, accepts the Retention Excellence Award. From left: Tom Williams, president of Noel-Levitz; Page; Randi Levitz, senior executive at Noel-Levitz; and Lee Noel, senior executive at Noel-Levitz.
