VALDOSTA — When it comes to keeping freshmen at Valdosta State University, the school lags behind other comparative universities.

In 2017, VSU had only 65.3 percent of its first-time, full-time freshmen continue onto sophomore year. 

The number was a decrease from 68.7 percent in 2016, and it was the lowest of the comprehensive universities, which include Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University and University of West Georgia.

Those schools had a retention rate of 77.6 percent, 78.5 percent and 68.9 percent, respectively, and the comprehensive university average is 75 percent.

With the Momentum Year program, VSU hopes to keep freshmen for all four years, said Dr. Rodney Carr, vice president of student success at VSU.

“I truly believe we have a responsibility for the students here,” Carr said. “We come to the rescue so to speak, and we want to stand ready when that student needs help or that faculty member needs guidance in helping the student.”

The Momentum Year, which is designed to engage freshmen inside and outside of the classroom, hopes to increase retention and graduation rates.

Carr said the initiative plans to get freshmen more involved in their major by setting out their course map within their first year.

“That degree map will lay out all the courses for you to follow,” Carr said. “All of us will go toward a goal when we know what the goal is.”

If freshmen don’t quite have a major in mind, Carr said that’s OK.

Students can choose from four focus areas: business, education, social sciences, health professions, STEM, humanities, applied technology and arts.

The focus areas are designed to help students find an eventual major, Carr said.

“We’re not expecting every 18-year-old to know what they want to do, but we will have the focus areas for them to start thinking of it,” Carr said. “We have career assessments that will help them guide that choice, and we’ll help them focus by the end of their first year.”

Though it won’t be a requirement, VSU and its academic advisors will be pushing a 30-credit hour freshmen year on students.

Carr said taking 30 hours the first year, including basic English and math classes, is more beneficial to freshmen staying than having a 20- or 24-credit hour first year.

The purpose for the push, which aligns with Gov. Nathan Deal’s Complete College Georgia, is to ease the transition from high school to college.

Carr said he and other faculty and staff remember what the first year was like, and it should be their responsibility to help students get through it.

“It’s the transition that’s hard,” Carr said. “I can remember when I went to college. I walked around looking at all the big buildings wondering where I was supposed to go and how I would fit in. We want them to transition easily inside and outside the classroom.”