The three finalists for Lamar University president visited with faculty, staff and students on the Lamar campus on Thursday.
Kenneth Evans, Ph.D. is the Dean of the College of Business at the University of Oklahoma.
Gregg Lassen, Ph.D. is the Vice President for finance and operations at Lamar University.
Carl Stockton, Ph.D. is the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Among other responsibilities, the school's 15th president will face one key issue: a declining retention rate.
In 2010, the retention rate at Lamar was 66%. Now, it's 56%; meaning more students are dropping out before earning a degree.
Student Government Association President, Quentin Jiles, is graduating in August. During his four-year tenure at Lamar, he says he has seen the retention rate drop dramatically.
"It's kind of devastating to know that so many freshman lost out on an opportunity that I've been given," says Jiles.
Jiles took the opportunity, Thursday, to ask the three presidential finalists their plans for helping students walk across the graduation stage.
Carl Stockton, Ph.D. answered that question on what needs to be done.
"Some of those kids may not be college ready. You can have a summer bridge program. You can have more students mentored, not only in classroom, but also outside the classroom with faculty mentors," says Stockton.
Gregg Lassen, Ph.D. agrees. But, also says Lamar has come a long way.
"What we're trying to do is take a university that went from here to here and now take it to here," says Lassen as he pointed as to where the university is headed, "We can learn from our sister schools in the Texas State University system. We can get better at that. We have nothing to be ashamed of. But, we can always improve."
Ken Evans, Ph.D. says student-faculty relationships are important and that his door will always be open if chosen president.
"Improving student retention and graduation rates are critical. You've got to be transparent. You've got to create an open environment where they(students) feel comfortable talking to you," says Evans.
As the head of the student government, Jiles says the head of the university should genuinely care about student success.
"I do feel that everyone should have an opportunity to go to school. If we allow people to come in who don't meet our standards, give that student more attention," says Jiles.
12News spoke to Sherry Benoit with Strategic Enrollment Management at Lamar. She says the focus is student success. She says Lamar has implemented programs to retain it's students; such as undergraduate advising and raising admission standards.
While the retention rate has declined, those who stay in school are graduating more often.
The six-year graduation rate at Lamar has gone up from 28% to 32% since 2010.
The new school president will be named by the end of the month.
Dr. Jimmy Simmons will return to the faculty as a music professor.
