Mercy College President Kimberly R. Cline today released information regarding encouraging retention rate increases, which indicate that the college’s PACT (Personal Achievement Contract) program is attaining its goals. With this, the first round of retention rates released since its start in spring of 2009, PACT has achieved what college leaders are calling a “significant and encouraging” increase for students in the program versus non-PACT students since last year.

PACT is a first-of-its-kind in the nation program that pairs incoming freshmen with highly qualified, full-time professional mentors to help students navigate through all aspects of college life, from financial aid to finding internships.

“We are very pleased with the initial success PACT is having and the direction in which it is heading,” said Dr. Cline. “The White House recently issued a call to action to raise the number of college graduates in America to the highest in the world by 2020. PACT is proving to be a potential national model that may help us all meet this national challenge.”

PACT addresses a critical concern that is national in scope—low retention and college completion rates—especially among low-income, minority and first-generation college students.

The issue of retention rates has significant implications for the U.S. economy as well, noted Dr. Cline. “According to data from CEOs For Cities, raising retention and graduate rates by even a small percentage in the top metro areas nationwide could ultimately result in an increase in income of $124 billion per year for the nation,” Dr. Cline said.

Sharing the Model

The college has shared the success of its revolutionary program with others through presentations at the AAC&U (American Association of Colleges and Universities) Annual Meeting in February and at the HACU (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities) Conference in September. “We are pleased to take a lead in the conversation about student retention and eager to share these very promising results,” said Dr. Cline.

PACT Results

The PACT program benefits individual students by creating realistic plans for personal and academic successes customized to that student’s needs and goals, but on a larger scale, serves as an example of how colleges can prepare students for their futures and careers. In 2009, PACT was named a “Best Practice” for retention and career services by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), and the U.S. Department of Education funded Mercy College $2.5 million to create a PACT program for graduate students.

“The success Mercy College has had with PACT so far is proof positive that retention rates for students across the board, no matter their backgrounds, can be improved with quality programming and effective student interaction,” said Dr. William E. Martinov, Executive Dean for Student Services and Leadership, and the head of PACT at Mercy College. “PACT has really proven to be an effective way to reduce the everyday obstacles students typically face in college, so that they can focus on their education. By assigning professional mentors to each student in the program, PACT ensures personalized attention that not only helps students maintain that focus, but also creates a plan that prepares them for a career beyond graduation.

“Separately, PACT and the quality education Mercy offers are prime reasons why enrollment has reached record levels,” added Dr. Martinov. The college recently announced its highest enrollment numbers ever in its 60-year history.

About Mercy College

Mercy College is a private, nonprofit institution founded in 1950, providing motivated students with the opportunity to earn degrees in more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs within five schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Liberal Arts. An engaging and personalized learning experience, that includes the college’s revolutionary PACT (Personalized Achievement Contract) program, is offered at the main campus in Dobbs Ferry, as well as campuses in the Bronx, Manhattan, Yorktown Heights and White Plains. www.mercy.edu 877-MERCY-GO.

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