Events
ACPA2GO: Data to Dialogue: Humanizing Retention Strategies
September 17 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT
Data to Dialogue: Humanizing Retention Strategies
17 September 2026 // 3:00PM – 4:00PM ET
Institutions of higher education have long relied on quantitative data such as GPA, retention rates, and credit accumulation to explain why students persist, transfer, or withdraw. While valuable, these numbers often flatten the student experience, overlooking the complex personal, social, and cultural dimensions that shape persistence. This session explores how integrating qualitative approaches such as narrative inquiry, focus groups, and student storytelling provides a more holistic picture of student success and attrition. By examining case studies and examples, participants will see how student voices illuminate gaps in institutional support and challenge assumptions hidden in traditional metrics. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies for designing mixed-method retention studies, framing student narratives as actionable data, and using these insights to inform equity-driven policies and practices. Ultimately, the session argues that to truly support retention, higher education must move beyond metrics and embrace the humanity behind the numbers.
- ACPA Individual Member – $10
- ACPA International Member – $5
- Non-Member – $20
Presented by:
- Ashley L. Lewis
Johns Hopkins University
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES
Leadership (LEAD)
In order to qualify for member rates for an ACPA2GO webinar, membership with ACPA must be valid through the scheduled webinar date. You must have your own individual membership. ACPA Members who purchase an ACPA2GO webinar registration understand their membership needs to be active through the scheduled webinar date. If it is not active prior to the start of the ACPA2GO webinar you will not be provided with the link to access the ACPA2Go Webinar unless you renew your membership or pay the difference between the non-member and member registration cost.
ACPA2Go registration purchases are final. Registrations can be paid by check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. All fees must be prepaid. Purchase orders are not accepted. ACPA reserves the right to charge a service fee of US$50 for returned checks. Registrations are non-transferable. The webinar may be canceled or postponed due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. In this case, the fees will be fully refunded.