Final answer:
A strategic element stating numerical targets for improvement, such as "a 5% increase in freshman to sophomore retention" and "a 10% increase in the six-year graduation rate", is best described as a Goal. Goals provide specific, quantifiable benchmarks that organizations aim to achieve, helping to steer strategies and programs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The strategic element consisting of statements such as "a 5% increase in freshman to sophomore retention" and "a 10% increase in the six-year graduation rate" is BEST described as a Goal. Goals are specific targets set by an institution or organization to achieve in a certain timeframe. These targets are often quantifiable, such as improving retention rates or graduation rates, and serve as benchmarks for measuring the success of strategic initiatives. For instance, when a college sets a goal to increase its six-year graduation rate, it outlines a clear and specific outcome that the institution wants to achieve, which then influences strategies and programs to reach that target. Parameters, such as the scenario where the U.S. federal government surveys high school seniors about their plans, fall into the realm of statistics. If this survey resulted in finding that 50% of students are planning to attend a four-year college, that 50% would be classified as a Statistic. In another example, if you were calculating the average GPA of all students who graduated from a high school, you would be dealing with a Parameter if you included the entire population of graduates, or a Statistic if you worked with a sample. The term Variable would refer to something like GPA, which can vary from student to student. Lastly, when discussing elements such as milestones or recognizing bias, these are aspects of strategic thinking and analysis, which could inform the development of goals and the subsequent strategies to achieve them.