Holistic Approach to College Prep Yields Impressive Results
Cedarville University’s WAVE program helps first-year students succeed through a holistic two-week initiative. By blending academic preparation, spiritual growth and social support, WAVE increased student retention by more than 20 percent — from 71 to 94.5 percent in two years.
Cedarville’s WAVE Program Boosts First-Year Student Success
College is a pivotal time of growth for students, but factors like financial pressure, academic readiness, social adjustment and lack of personal support can hinder success.
While many universities offer preparatory programs to ease that transition, Cedarville University has taken a distinctive approach through WAVE— a two-week holistic initiative that has significantly improved student engagement and retention.
Holistic Approach Improves Retention by Over 20 Percent
As part of Cedarville’s Quality Initiative — a strategic plan to strengthen first-year student retention — the university recently expanded WAVE from 30 to 50 participants. Even with the increase in the program, Cedarville’s freshman-to-sopho
“Tara’s been a dynamic leader, and she took WAVE and developed it into what it is today,” said Kim Ahlgrim, director of The Cove. “She's been here in The Cove for years and knows everything from the administration side to the student life side. WAVE ramped up to a different level because of who she is.”
Leadership, Community and Faith Shape WAVE Experience
Winter coordinated with Cedarville faculty and staff who had been involved in WAVE for many years — Jeff Reep, director of career services; Becky Kuhn, coordinator of academic engagement; Danielle Burns, faculty academic coach; and Beth Amstutz, adjunct professor.
"I thought, ‘Let's take all this research from the past nine years of WAVE and teach how to study, how to take notes, how to take a test, how to engage in a lab versus a lecture — and other little nuanced things like that,” said Winter.
Under Winter’s direction, the core program stayed the same but was expanded to include more specified sessions on test-taking, notetaking, studying and academic planning. But the program doesn’t stop there. WAVE prepares students not only for academics but for college life as a whole.
“We want to make sure they have every tool available to them to be successful academically,” said Winter. “But at Cedarville, it’s not just about academics. We are very intentional to provide students with social connections and to build into students spiritually. We want to walk alongside them.”
WAVE Students Thrive Through Academic and Social Support
Faculty and staff also offer advice on dorm life, school stress and available campus resources. Between academic sessions, students explore the local area to build community and become familiar with their surroundings. They visit a local church, coffee shop, hiking trail, donut shop, and even an amusement park. Daily devotionals modeled after Cedarville’s daily chapel are led by professors and student leaders.
WAVE doesn’t just improve retention rates — it builds friendships and support groups before the semester even begins.
“It's my favorite program,” said Ahlgrim. “I still see WAVE students walking around in those friend groups all over campus. They show up as complete strangers and walk away as great friends.”
For Cedarville, WAVE is more than a retention tool — it’s a tangible expression of the university’s mission to equip students for academic success, spiritual growth and lifelong community. By investing early, the university helps students thrive not only during college but long after they leave campus.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.