Improving Recruitment and Retention: A Management Framework to Utilize DMAIC and Kaizen for Student Support in Engineering Education
The Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center within the College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech University has undergone a transformative upgrade by integrating the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) framework with select Kaizen principles for continuous improvement to enhance stud...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Trends in Higher Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-4346/4/1/7 |
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| author | Kumar Yelamarthi Elizabeth Powell Mazen Hussein |
| author_facet | Kumar Yelamarthi Elizabeth Powell Mazen Hussein |
| author_sort | Kumar Yelamarthi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center within the College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech University has undergone a transformative upgrade by integrating the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) framework with select Kaizen principles for continuous improvement to enhance student support services. Key performance indicators (KPIs) have been employed to assess the achievement of core goals, significantly advancing recruitment, retention, and overall student success. Implementing the DMAIC framework has streamlined processes such as a unified degree map and a math bridge program, resulting in a 53% increase in incoming first-year students and broadening the College of Engineering’s outreach. These efforts have also contributed to a 10% increase in first-to-second-year retention rates. Through the utilization of DMAIC, the regular redistribution of advisor caseloads and cross-training has been facilitated, ensuring timely student support without overburdening advisors. Additionally, targeted academic support initiatives have reduced the at-risk student population from 19% to 11%. These management techniques extend to multiple initiatives, including enhancements to high school summer camps, advisor listening sessions, and student surveys designed to meet evolving student needs. Creating specialized areas for academic advisors has also supported their professional growth, contributing to better student outcomes. This paper comprehensively analyzes these strategies and provides valuable insights for institutions seeking to apply DMAIC and continuous improvement models to strengthen student support systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-12460cdc62074a5e894338a0aec47d22 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2813-4346 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Trends in Higher Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-12460cdc62074a5e894338a0aec47d222025-08-20T03:43:11ZengMDPI AGTrends in Higher Education2813-43462025-02-0141710.3390/higheredu4010007Improving Recruitment and Retention: A Management Framework to Utilize DMAIC and Kaizen for Student Support in Engineering EducationKumar Yelamarthi0Elizabeth Powell1Mazen Hussein2College of Engineering, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USACollege of Engineering, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USACollege of Engineering, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USAThe Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center within the College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech University has undergone a transformative upgrade by integrating the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) framework with select Kaizen principles for continuous improvement to enhance student support services. Key performance indicators (KPIs) have been employed to assess the achievement of core goals, significantly advancing recruitment, retention, and overall student success. Implementing the DMAIC framework has streamlined processes such as a unified degree map and a math bridge program, resulting in a 53% increase in incoming first-year students and broadening the College of Engineering’s outreach. These efforts have also contributed to a 10% increase in first-to-second-year retention rates. Through the utilization of DMAIC, the regular redistribution of advisor caseloads and cross-training has been facilitated, ensuring timely student support without overburdening advisors. Additionally, targeted academic support initiatives have reduced the at-risk student population from 19% to 11%. These management techniques extend to multiple initiatives, including enhancements to high school summer camps, advisor listening sessions, and student surveys designed to meet evolving student needs. Creating specialized areas for academic advisors has also supported their professional growth, contributing to better student outcomes. This paper comprehensively analyzes these strategies and provides valuable insights for institutions seeking to apply DMAIC and continuous improvement models to strengthen student support systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-4346/4/1/7DMAICengineering educationengineering managementrecruitmentretentionstudent success |
| spellingShingle | Kumar Yelamarthi Elizabeth Powell Mazen Hussein Improving Recruitment and Retention: A Management Framework to Utilize DMAIC and Kaizen for Student Support in Engineering Education Trends in Higher Education DMAIC engineering education engineering management recruitment retention student success |
| title | Improving Recruitment and Retention: A Management Framework to Utilize DMAIC and Kaizen for Student Support in Engineering Education |
| title_full | Improving Recruitment and Retention: A Management Framework to Utilize DMAIC and Kaizen for Student Support in Engineering Education |
| title_fullStr | Improving Recruitment and Retention: A Management Framework to Utilize DMAIC and Kaizen for Student Support in Engineering Education |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving Recruitment and Retention: A Management Framework to Utilize DMAIC and Kaizen for Student Support in Engineering Education |
| title_short | Improving Recruitment and Retention: A Management Framework to Utilize DMAIC and Kaizen for Student Support in Engineering Education |
| title_sort | improving recruitment and retention a management framework to utilize dmaic and kaizen for student support in engineering education |
| topic | DMAIC engineering education engineering management recruitment retention student success |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-4346/4/1/7 |
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