Case Study: West Virginia University strengthens student purpose and retention with Gallup's CliftonStrengths

West Virginia University boosts freshman retention to 81.4% with Gallup

West Virginia University (WVU) sought to help its students find their purpose and propel them toward successful careers, aiming to improve connection and retention. To support this mission, the university partnered with vendor Gallup and integrated the CliftonStrengths assessment into its campus-wide initiative.

Gallup's solution involved embedding CliftonStrengths into the student experience, starting from orientation, and providing extensive workshops for both students and faculty. This strengths-based approach fostered greater self-awareness, confidence, and connection among students. The measurable impact was significant, resulting in WVU achieving its second-highest freshman retention rate of 81.4%, increases in student GPAs, and climbing graduation rates.

West Virginia University