Paul Thayer Appointed Director of Undergraduate Student Retention

A longtime administrative professional will spearhead efforts to create an extensive plan for retaining undergraduate students at Colorado State University.

As director of Undergraduate Student Retention, Paul Thayer will identify, coordinate and integrate university resources focused on retaining students at all stages of academic life.

The position, a one-year appointment, will outline the long- term efforts needed to retain students at the undergraduate level, Associate Provost Paul Wong said in making the announcement. Thayer will work with appropriate faculty, administrators and agencies to develop a universitywide plan for student retention that includes an extensive support system and other programs.

"Dr. Thayer’s appointment shows the university’s strong commitment toward making the student experience academically and personally rewarding from the time they enter school as freshmen to graduation," Wong said.

Thayer has been an administrator at Colorado State for 18 years. Over the past eight years, he has served as director of the Center for Educational Access and Outreach. He received his doctoral degree in public administration with an emphasis on higher education administration from the University of Colorado earlier this year.