The fall 2024 semester is coming to a close, and Kent State freshmen are preparing for the second half of their first year of college.

A class of just over 13,000, 2023 research by University College shows that only about 82% will return for the spring semester, according to Liz Piatt, interim dean of University College.

This retention rate reflects the number of students who have integrated into college life and found a sense of belonging at Kent State by the end of their first semester. Piatt said most students who do well and stay have formed connections on campus.

“We know from research on the first-year experience that it’s really important to get students connected with at least one person at the university,” she said. “Students who participate in what we call a ‘high impact practice’ are much more successful, much more likely to be retained.”

Piatt said this practice could involve research with a faculty member, getting involved with a student organization or becoming a student leader. Kayleigh Jencks, a freshman journalism major, and Joey Bugos, a freshman music education major, have both joined a high-impact practice and are planning to return for the spring semester.

Jencks, a commuter, takes advantage of the days she is on campus with her involvement in Kent Stater TV, the university’s student-run news outlet. As an assistant producer on the Wednesday newscast, she has made friends within the organization. She said it was a happy surprise to find herself easily integrating into college life.

“I really didn’t feel like I was going to integrate until sophomore year,” Jencks said. “I fully intended to just take it slow, take it as it is, if I don’t find best friends, that’s okay.”

This wasn’t the only expectation she found to be different from reality. Jencks also said she was at first afraid of all the unknowns coming her way: not knowing how hard college would be, what the bus system on campus would be like, if she would make friends or if she would find her place at Kent State.

“Going from somewhere that I knew a lot of people to not knowing a ton of people, that’s hard,” she said. “There’s honestly been waves. The first two weeks were the absolute hardest because you’re kind of finding your way.”

Even so, Jencks said she feels college is even better than she thought it would be.

“I’m very glad that I don’t feel too overwhelmed with school because I don’t think I would be happy coming to school every day if I was just overwhelmed straight off the bat,” she said.

Bugos, who said he spends most of his days practicing his trombone, is heavily involved in the music school. Sometimes, he has multiple concerts per week.

“I expected to learn a lot and improve a lot as a trombone artist and just a musician in general, but it’s been even more beneficial than I could have thought of,” he said. “It’s definitely a lot more jam-packed than I was expecting.”

He has found a community within the music school, something he didn’t expect. He said everyone is kind and welcoming, and they’re willing to help with anything. One of the reasons he chose to attend Kent State was because he knew a lot of people in the school.

“I knew that I could at least have someone that if I fall down, they can maybe catch me,” Bugos said.

Outside of his academics, Bugos said his dorm life is good, his roommate being one of his old friends. He said he feels the food is pretty abysmal, but enjoys eating at the student center or Rosie’s the most. When it comes to his social life, he said he feels he could do more, but he’s getting there.

Because of his busy schedule, he hasn’t found much time to be homesick. Jencks, on the other hand, knew that living too far away from home would be upsetting for her, which is why she is gradually building her independence.

“Pushing myself out there, that’s not good for me,” she said. “I need to slowly do it.”

Piatt said University College works hard to help students feel at home on campus, including starting the year off with a welcome weekend that exposes freshmen to all the resources the campus has to offer.

Throughout the year, if a student needs help, they can contact the Academic Success Center through Flash Help, or their professor can submit an Early Alert if they notice someone struggling. Piatt’s staff then connects students to resources, whether it be tutoring, academic coaching or a department outside of theirs.

The Academic Success Center also does a lot of targeted communication to students who they know based on data will encounter barriers in college, Piatt said.

“We’re sending out information to those students at the very beginning of the semester to let them know these are all the things that you can do to connect if you’re struggling academically.”

Piatt said University College’s research has also found that students who have an on-campus job or participate in the Peer Success Academy course, one that prepares students to be leaders on campus, are more likely to persist, retain and feel like they belong at Kent State.

Next semester, Jencks said she is excited to be taking this course, even though she will have a heavy schedule. Bugos also expressed a heavier workload in his future, something he is preparing to adjust to.

“Before I had visited here, … I expected to kind of be just in my own world,” Bugos said. “I didn’t really expect to have all these people willing to help me so much. But when I first visited Kent and I met my trombone professors, they were just great. And I saw that they would definitely be able to help me through a lot.”