From analysis to action
In a recent practice guide titled Learning from High-Performing and Fast-Gaining Institutions, the Education Trust identifies 10 analyses institutions might make – essentially, 10 questions to answer – that will prompt action to increase college completion among low-income and students of color:
- How many students do we lose along the way? A look at year-to-year retention rates.
- But are those returning students actually sophomores? Tracking the rate of second-year students who achieve sophomore standing.
- Why aren’t our students accumulating the credits they need to be on track? Analyzing the impact of course withdrawals.
- What are some of the other reasons our students aren’t accumulating the credits they need? Analyzing success rates in the 25-35 courses with the largest annual enrollment.
- Who’s struggling with math: only developmental students? Analyzing success rates in the first credit-bearing math course.
- How many students who need remediation succeed at our institution? Digging into the data on developmental courses, especially in math.
- What is the role of the major, or a lack thereof, in student success? Analyzing the data on success for students indifferent fields.
- How efficient are we in getting students to a degree without excess credits? Analyzing the data on units completed.
- What pathways do our students take on their journey to a degree? An analysis of transcripts.
- How do the pieces of student success, or failure, fit together? Conducting a fuller analysis of student pathways.