Approaching the Challenge of Student Retention through the Lens of Quality Control: A Conceptual Model of University Business Student Retention Utilizing Six Sigma

Student retention in higher education is a major issue as academic institutions compete for fewer students and face declining enrollments. A conceptual model of applying the quality improvement methodology of Six Sigma to the problem of undergraduate student retention in a college of business is presented. Improvement techniques such as cause and effect analysis, process maps and failure models, and effects analysis are illustrated with representative student retention variables and outcomes from a large midwestern university. The use of Six Sigma in academic settings is rare and its utilization to improve student retention is a novel application.