Loyola has begun to target the right kind of people, said Gidget Fields, psychology senior and residential assistant. Before, the ads were just about Mardi Gras and drinking, so we got people who just wanted to party. Loyola's generosity with institutional money has played a major part in keeping retention up by helping students afford to stay, Steiffel said. Loyola's average annual tuition is below the national average, though the gap is closing to be on par with other private schools, Steiffel said. According to Fields, the students that Loyola loses leave because they don't have any ties to the school.
Most students have a laissez faire attitude and show a lack of school spirit.
Krystina Lopez de Quintana, political science senior, said she believes that the university has little spirit, but that it does a good job keeping those who do participate in extracurricular activities. Some say they believe that school spirit is improving. Holmes said he believes that this has a direct effect on retention by giving new students a chance to talk to upperclassmen and by promoting student interaction. Chris Cameron, director of Student Activities and the Danna Center, is also happy with the level of extracurricular participation. For the past two years, with the class of 2004 and 2003, students are getting involved in some way.