Post on 20-Oct-2014
description
Strategies for Increasing College Completion
David L. BuhlerCommissioner of Higher
EducationAugust 27, 2013
“College Completion” is a strategic priority of the Board of Regents About half of our students graduate—less than
the national average
Presidents have been working on a number of strategies and efforts to improve completion and the number of graduates and are making progress
Particular challenge for open-access institutions
Improving College Completion: A Board of Regents Priority
Using Funding to Support Completion Initiatives
Mission Based Funding –Distinctive Mission 2013-14 most of Distinctive Mission
$4.3 million for completion 40% for participation 10% for economic development
2013-14 Performance Funding ($1 million) also focuses on initiatives to enhance completion Institutions identified specific strategies
Funding distributed based on results July 2014
System-Wide Steps
Adopt proven strategies to further the Regents’ completion agenda
Recommendations are supported by USHE Presidents
Based on data and research from Complete College America
Time is the Enemy
Barriers to completion include: Taking fewer hours than possible Delayed by developmental courses Student confusion from too many
choices
Utah has particular challenges with the number of students who take time out for religious service
Thus, we must do everything we can to remove barriers to completion
Current Completion Rates
2 Years 3 Years 4 Years0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
21%
27%
32%
4%7%
10%
Graduation Rates of AA/AS Studentsat USHE Institutions
Fall 2007 Cohort (CCA)
Full-TimePart-Time
Current Completion Rates
4 Years 6 Years0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
29%
47%
9%
18%
Graduation Rates of BA/BS Studentsat USHE Institutions
Fall 2005 Cohort (CCA)
Full-TimePart-Time
Credits Attempted New Students
1-5 6-11 12-14 15+
Headcount 1863 6087 14573 7793
10003000500070009000
110001300015000
USHE Fall 12 number of credits attempted
(new 1st time students)
6%
20%
48%
26%
Credits Attempted System-Wide
1-5 6-11 12-14 15+
Headcount 30769 46723 54491 30546
5,000
15,000
25,000
35,000
45,000
55,000
All USHE students Number of credits attempted
19%
29%
33%
19%
Completion Strategy #1
Define Full-Time as 15 Credits per Semester
Increases likelihood of graduating on time, earning higher grades, and higher completion rates
Students who take more credits finish college faster and enter the workforce sooner
University of Hawai’i system found regardless of preparation, students who took 15 or more hours performed better.
Completion Strategy #2
Use Plateau Tuition as Incentive
Taking more credit hours per semester maximizes students’ tuition dollars & time
Can result in saving one year’s cost of tuition/fees
Students’ tuition bills are not dependent on the number of credits they take, but are constant over time
Completion Strategy #3
Create “Graduation Maps” for Each Major
Provide students with clearer sense of which courses to take when
Help students stay on track to finish their degrees on time
Help institutions know which courses to offer when
Prospective students can see what a particular major will look like
First-Year Program Map for BS in Chemical Engineeringat the University of Utah
Course Prefix Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
MATH 1310 Eng Calculus 4
CHEM 1210 General Chemistry 4
CHEM 1215 General Chemistry Lab 1
WRTG 2010 Intermediate Writing 3
CH EN 1703 Intro to Chem Eng 2
ETHC 2500 Intro to Ethnic Studies 3
FIRST SEMESTER
SECOND SEMESTERCourse Prefix Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
MATH 1320 Eng Calculus II 4
CHEM 1220 General Chemistry II 4
CHEM 1225 General Chemistry Lab II
1
PHYS 2210 Phycs for Scien & Eng I 4
CH EN 1705 Chem Eng Design & Innov
3
CH EN 4755 Undergraduate Seminar .5
TOTAL CREDITS: 17
TOTAL CREDITS: 16.5Source: University of Utah Course Catalog 2013-14
Completion Strategy #4
Improve Success of Developmental Math
40% of Utah college students are placed in developmental courses
Fewer than 50% of students move on to college-level math within two years
Encouraging students to enroll in math their first year will help them move on to college-level courses in a timely manner
Completion Strategy #5
Institute Reverse Transfer/Stackable Credentials
Students who receive associate degree are more likely to complete four-year degree
Those who don’t finish will at least have one credential on their resumes
Reverse transfer allows a student’s achievements to be recognized with an associate degree after they’ve transferred to a four-year school
Getting the word out on Completion
Technology Enhanced
Redesign of Mathematics
Getting the word out on Completion
Board of Regents’ Resolution Providing Direction to Institutions in Five Areas
1. Establishing 15 credits as the standard for “full-time.”
2. Setting plateau tuition to provide a financial incentive focused on 12-15 credit hours.
3. For new students without college math credit, encourage them to enroll in math during the first year and successful transitions from developmental to for-credit math.
4. Create accessible graduation maps for each major.
5. Carefully explore feasibility of implementing reverse transfer/stackable credentials.
*Institutions report progress to Board in January and July 2014.