A study was undertaken in 2018 to compare the first-year performance of mentees who were participating in BeWell during 2017 versus mentees who were not part of the programme during 2017.
The study focused on first-year retention rates and weighted averages after the first semester and at the end of the year.
The following figures summarise the results, and tells an interesting story...pay special attention to the so-called vulnerable groups and also study their participation rates.
Please note: These are preliminary results and further investigations are certainly necessary to confirm them. Early indications are, however, very promising and point to positive relationship between BeWell engagement and academic performance.
Retention rates per faculty: First-years not in BeWell versus first-years in BeWell with sessions
Retention rates per race: First-years not in BeWell versus first-years in BeWell with sessions
Retention rates per gender: First-years not in BeWell versus first-years in BeWell with sessions
Retention rates per home language: First-years not in BeWell versus first-years in BeWell with sessions
Retention rates per grade 12 level of first-years not in BeWell versus first-years in BeWell with sessions
Retention rates of so-called vulnerable groups: First-years not in BeWell versus first-years in BeWell with sessions
Weighted June and Y1 averages: First-years not part of BeWell versus first-years within the programme
The size of the 2017 new incoming first-year cohort was 5501. 88.62% or 4875 of them were retained. 1834 of them were not part of the BeWell programme and 83.81% of them enrolled again in 2018, i.e. 1537 were retained. 3667 were part of a BeWell group and their retention rate was 91.03% (3338). We have evidence (tracking records) that 3138 were active in their BeWell groups (at least one session was logged) and that 91.59% of them, or 2874, were retained.
If all 5501 of the 2017 cohort actively participated in BeWell and it is assumed that a retention rate of 91.59% was then possible for the whole cohort (the actual retention rate for the active 2017 group) then 163 students would have been saved and enrolled again (5038 vs 4875). This assumes that it is possible for BeWell to cause the differences in retention.
First-years who participated in at least 6 welcome period and at least 6 wellness card sessions were retained at a rate of 94.17%. If all 5501 of the 2017 cohort could have done the same and it is assumed that a retention rate of 94.17% was therefore possible for the whole cohort, then 305 additional students would have been saved and enrolled again in 2018 (5180 vs 4875). This assumes that it is possible for BeWell to cause the differences in retention.