ABAC instituted a checkpoint in the spring of 2015 to help students know when they are ‘off-track’: Academic Support Counselors (ASCs) check all baccalaureate-degree-seeking students at 90 hours to establish that they are on track to graduate on time, using such factors as RHSC deficiencies remaining, completion of the Core Curriculum, on track to meet residency requirement, curriculum completion on track, legislative requirements met, and meeting minimum GPA requirement for graduation. ASCs compile a list of these students and send information to their academic advisors and to the dean of the school in which the student is advised. The ASCs also follow up with the students who are identified as ‘off-track’ to assist them in getting on track for on-time graduation.
90-hour checkpoints are performed each fall and spring semester for baccalaureate-degree-seeking students and 30-hour checks (completion of AREA A) are performed each spring semester for all students. The measures of success defined during the 2014-2015 CCG plan update were as follows:
At least ½ the number of students who are identified as being off-track at 90 hours will graduate within 30 credit hours.
Increase the number of baccalaureate-degree-seeking students who graduate OT.
This high-impact strategy has been a success for ABAC. As the data show (see metrics below), 66% of identified off track students for spring 2015 graduated by the following spring. Currently, 61% of identified off-track students for fall 2015 have graduated on-time and this number is predicted to grow after fall 2016 graduation.
30-hour checks were conducted for spring of 2015 for all enrolled students and 128 were identified as not having satisfied Area A of the CORE. These students were contacted and enrolled for the appropriate course the following semester to help get these students back on-track for graduation. As of spring 2016, 78% of these students have completed Area A.
The institution uses the following criteria for identifying baccalaureate students who are off-track toward on-time graduation:
- RHSC deficiencies remaining
- Completion of the Core Curriculum
- Residency Requirements
- Curriculum completion on degree track
- Legislative requirements
- Minimum GPA requirement for graduation
Academic Support compiles a list of these students each semester and follows the below protocol:
- Sends email communication to each student
- Sends the compiled list to the students’ academic advisor and dean of the school in which the student is advised
- Follows up with the student to assist them in getting on track for on-time graduation
30-hour checks are performed each spring semester on all students. Students who have not completed area A of the Core Curriculum or an RHSC deficiency by 30-hours are considered to be off-track. These identified students are contacted by Academic Support and assisted in registering for the appropriate course(s). Notification is also sent to each student’s advisor.
Metric/data element:
For 90-hour checkpoints the percentage of identified off-track students who successfully graduate and for 30-hour checks the percentage of identified off-track students who successfully complete identified mile markers for persistence to graduation (i.e. completion of Area A).
Baseline measure:
The first 90-hour check was performed spring 2015. That check revealed that 62 baccalaureate-degree-seeking students were off-track to graduate on time.
Interim Measures of Progress:
2014-2015
Since we implemented this strategy in spring 2015, interim measures of progress will not be known until spring 2016, when these students should graduate. Progress made thus far is the identification of the students and actions taken by ASCs and advisors to get students on track.
2015-2016
90-hour Checkpoints
|
Off Track |
Graduated |
Percentage graduated |
|
|
Spring 2015 |
62 |
41 |
66.13% |
|
Fall 2015 |
92 |
57 |
61.96% |
|
Spring 2016 |
39 |
NR |
NR |
30-hour Checkpoints
|
Off Track |
Graduated |
Percentage graduated |
|
|
Spring 2015 |
128 |
100 |
78.13% |
|
Spring 2016 |
155 |
NR |
NR |
53 baccalaureate-degree-seeking students from the fall 2012 cohort graduated on-time in 4 years. This goal is 32.5% over our projected target of 40 on time baccalaureate graduates from the fall 2014 cohort
Measures of Success:
At least 60% of the number of students, who are identified as being off-track at 90 hours, will graduate within 30 credit hours.
Projected target: 25 of the 39 baccalaureate-degree-seeking students who were off-track at the 90-hour check mark in spring 2016 will graduate within 30 credit hours.
Increase the number of baccalaureate-degree-seeking students who graduate OT.
Projected target: 60 baccalaureate-degree-seeking students from the fall 2013 cohort will graduate on time.
Initially, during the 2014-15 academic year, we were surprised by the number of baccalaureate students who reached 90-hours without completing RHSC deficiencies or the Core Curriculum. This led to Academic Support implementing 30-hour checks to help keep all students on-track for on-time graduation. The effects of the 30-hour checks can be seen in the sharp decrease (57% less) in students identified as off-track at 90-hours for spring 2016. Academic Support will continue to work with students who are determined to be off-track and get them registered for the required course(s) the following semester. Advisors will also be notified of the requirements to insure the students do not withdraw from the required classes.
