Milestone Project: An Innovative Retention Model for First-Time-in-Any-College Students
Delta College’s Advising Team created the Milestones Project in response to a clear institutional need: Fall-to-fall retention for full-time, first-time-in-any-college students had declined to approximately 58%, with notable gaps for Pell-eligible students and some racial and ethnic groups. Rather than accept year-end outcomes as unavoidable, the team reframed student success as something the institution could intentionally influence early through structured support and momentum in the first year. Team members focused on early credit momentum, gateway course completion, and term-to-term persistence. In summer 2025, all advisors completed Appreciative Advising training through grant support and earned Certified Appreciative Advisor status, enhancing their ability to build trusting, strengths-based relationships with students. These combined efforts contributed to measurable progress, including an increase in fall-to-fall retention for first-time, full-time students from 62% to 64% in one year.
Innovators
- Kaitlinn Atkinson, Advisor, Student Success
- Cynthia Blahnik, Team Lead, Business and Technology Advising
- Tony Cianciolo, Advisor, Student Success
- Shannon Doerr, Advisor, Student Success
- Rachel Farmer, Advisor, Student Success
- Jennifer Gaumer, Team Lead, Arts and Sciences Advising
- Riki Gross, Advisor, Student Success
- Randy Hall, Advisor and Coordinator, Midland Center Student Success
- Amy Howard, Advisor, Student Success
- Raeann Jones-Keller, Advisor, Student Success
- Karry Kiste-Toner, Dean, Student Success
- Addam Kraynak, Advisor, Student Success
- Kim Mehl, Advisor, Student Success
- Rachel Merkle, Technologist and Coordinator, Student Success
- Kris Neveau, Advisor, Student Success
- Brent Norman, Advisor, Student Success
- Jessica Rubey, Advisor, Student Success
- David Urbaniak, Director, Advising
- Michelle White, Team Lead, Health and Wellness Advising
- Craig Wilson, Advisor, Student Success
- Dan Wohlsheid, Advisor, Student Success
