Managing Institutional Factors for Enhancing Undergraduate Students’ Retention in Universities in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This study examines institutional factors that enhance undergraduate students’ retention in universities in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, with a focus on academic and financial support services and the implications of their effective management. Employing a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 300 undergraduate students and 80 academic staff across two universities: Niger Delta University, Ammassoma, and the University of Africa, Toru-Orua. The research instrument used in gathering data for the study is a 15-item self-constructed questionnaire prepared by the researchers titled “Managing Institutional Factors for Enhancing Undergraduate Students’ Retention Questionnaire (MIFEUSRQ), yielding a Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.78. Findings revealed that academic support services significantly enhance student retention, as evidenced by the grand mean score of 3.25 for items such as faculty mentoring, advisory committees, and workshops. Financial support services also contributed substantially, with a grand mean of 3.17, highlighting the positive impact of scholarships, financial aid awareness programs, and grants on reducing students’ financial burdens. Furthermore, the aggregate percentage score of 85% of academic staff emphasized that effective management of institutional factors, including academic and financial support services, could serve as a model for resource-constrained universities to enhance retention. They also noted the importance of cross-institutional collaboration and community engagement in fostering supportive learning environments. This study concludes that managing academic and financial support services is pivotal to retaining students in Bayelsa State universities. The findings underscore the need for strategic policies, collaborative efforts, and resource optimization to improve student retention rates, reduce attrition, and ensure institutional sustainability. These insights provide actionable recommendations for university administrators, policymakers, and stakeholders committed to enhancing higher education outcomes in Nigeria.