Evangel University creates new position, names Becky Spain director of retention
November 29, 2007
Contact: Paul K. Logsdon, Director of Public Relations and Publications, (417) 865-2815 ext. 7292
Springfield, Mo. — Nationally, only 66 percent of high school graduates will attend college. Of those, only half will graduate with their bachelor’s degree, according to data from ACT (pronounced A-C-T), the educational and career testing company in Iowa City, Iowa.
As recruitment gets more and more expensive, and the pool of available students drops with declining population rates, retaining current students has become a high priority for universities nationwide.
Evangel University has added an Office of Retention to the Division of Enrollment Management. Becky Spain, Evangel alumna and active member in the Springfield community, has been named director of retention.
“Evangel’s retention rate is considerably higher than the national average,” said Spain. “Still, it is our desire to help our students overcome obstacles that could derail them, helping them to complete the university education they came to receive.”
Obstacles can range from finances, to career options, to personality conflicts with roommates.
“I will be an added resource to students, parents, faculty and staff as we work to help our students meet their academic goals,” Spain said.
Responsibilities for the new full-time position include:
- Developing a comprehensive retention plan
- Assessing the needs of incoming students
- Developing a strategy to identify and work with students “at risk” for dropping out
- Conducting surveys of students and graduates
Evangel is the national Assemblies of God college of arts, sciences and professions, drawing nearly 2,000 students from all 50 states and abroad. Evangel offers more than 100 undergrad academic programs and eight master’s programs that are on the cutting edge of today’s professional fields.
About Becky Spain
Prior to joining Evangel, Spain served as a member of the management teams for JPMorgan Chase, T-Mobile USA and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
Long active in the Springfield community, Becky serves on the board of directors for the Ozarks Region Workforce Investment Board, the Mayor’s Commission for Children, Southeast Rotary, the board of trustees for Boys and Girls Town of Missouri, and the advisory board for City Utilities of Springfield.
She is a graduate and past board member of Leadership Springfield, a graduate of Leadership Missouri and a past president of the Southwest Missouri Citizens Advisory Board for Probation and Parole.
Becky graduated from Evangel University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. She has been married to Eddie Spain for 29 years; they have three children.
For additional information, contact Andy Denton, vice president for enrollment management, at (417) 865-2815 ext. 7346.