Students First

Our unwavering focus on student growth and development inspires students to expand their learning beyond the classroom, building an engaged and vibrant community of learners and readying students for real-world success.

Benchmarks/Key Performance Indicators

  • Full-time undergraduate enrollment will increase 12% or 438 students (from 3,743 in fall 2016 to 4,181 in fall 2021)
  • Graduate enrollment will increase by 7% or 1,000 credits (from 13,038 in fall 2016 to 14,009 in fall 2021)
  • Freshman to sophomore retention will increase to 85% by fall 2021, up from 78% in fall 2016
  • The 4-year graduation rate will increase to 65% for the fall 2017 entering cohort, up from 57% for the fall 2012 entering cohort
  • The resident student population will increase 17% to 2,540 by fall 2021, or 61% of our full-time population. This is up from 2,177, or 58% of our full-time population, in fall 2016
  • Ten new academic programs will be established by fall 2020, including new undergraduate and graduate offerings in such areas as Analytics, Kinesiology, Cybersecurity, Actuarial Science, Engineering and Technology
  • NSSE scores will improve particularly in the areas of Academic Challenge and Quality of Interactions
  • Job placement rates in the upper 90s
  • Gallup Purdue index related to student/alumni professional engagement and personal well-being

Strategic Goals

  1. Implement the Engaged Learning Program beginning with the fall 2017 entering class. 
    Beginning with the fall 2017 class, students will be required to complete at least two high impact engaged learning experiences that reflect the University’s strategic themes of leadership, ethics and social responsibility, and global and multicultural perspectives. These experiences, documented on the Engaged Learning transcript, will help students build bridges between their courses of study and the world in which they live.
  2. Develop a First Year Experience (FYE) for all freshmen and transfer students.
  3. Create a comprehensive holistic advising model for all students that supports their academic planning and progression and career development and success.
  4. Strengthen students’ persistence and timeliness to graduation.
  5. Continue to revitalize curricular offerings and delivery methods to attract and retain students and non-traditional learners, strengthen the best of what Rider has to offer, and reflect advances in higher education, industries and the professions.
  6. Build a vibrant living and learning community that enhances the university experience for students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni, strengthens learning and campus spirit and further builds a sense of community, place and belonging.