Here in the southwest, the economy has taken a hit harder than most of what I see anywhere. Some of what I am seeing is so tragic it is difficult to combat. For example: when a student's vehicle is out of service s/he simply does not have the funds to make the repair. Because distances are vast and public transportation is wanting, students simply stop attending. There's not much anyone can do about that--as I see it. Additionally, as social service networks fail more situations arise. For example, students cannot find childcare; they cannot come to class. I personaly have no difficulty with a student bringing a child to class in an emergency but my institution does not permit it. Retention is a slippery slope that cannot be handled simply with the advice I have found in this module. Life is more complex than anyone can get her head around. It is like string theory, sometimes... If institutions are truly willing to tackle the multiple and tangental issues of retention with their own support networks they will loose students for reasons that have nothing to do with quality of teaching and reaching out to students.