Exploring equity in success metrics and expanding access through enhanced support for underserved populations (e.g., first-generation students, transfer students)
Georgia Tech’s standard success metrics (e.g., six-year graduation rates for first-year cohorts, one-year retention rates for first-year cohorts) are very strong. However, certain demographics (e.g., underrepresented minorities, first-generation students, Pell students) within the cohorts underperform the baselines. For some metrics, like our four-year graduation rates, the disparity across demographics is more pronounced. Further, transfer students are a growing population of undergraduates with increased diversity. Appraising their success is increasingly important.
This project aligns with the Expand Access focus area of the ISP and the ongoing Enrollment Management Strategy sessions. It also aligns with the planned curricular analytics work, since lowering degree complexity would impact degree progression across demographics.
Evaluation Plan and measures:
- OUE is developing transfer student experience survey to be distributed to all currently enrolled transfer students; this data will be collected and analyzed in late spring 2023
- Increase support for limited-income students
- Develop a plan to close equity gaps in success metrics and participation in HIPs. Plan will include recommendations for institutional change in future years designed to support growing diversity within our student population.
KPIs:
- Institutional student success metrics (e.g. retention, graduation rate, and time to graduation), special populations in parity with overall metrics
- Special populations are HIPs engagement rates
Baseline measure (for each KPI):
- Current success metrics for varied student demographics (e.g., graduation rates, retention rates)
- Current HIPs participation rates for varied student demographics
Current/most recent data (for each KPI)
Goal or targets (for each KPI):
- Develop consistent definition of “first-gen” to be used when analyzing and measuring success metrics.
- Clearly define the equity gaps and communicate findings to campus community.
- Produce a plan with actionable steps designed to impact equity gaps in alignment with President’s DEI goals.
- Increased support for transfer students through strategic hiring of dedicated personnel to initiate and execute programming.
- Increased support for underserved student populations (e.g. first-gen and limited income students) through strategic hiring of dedicated personnel to initiate and execute programming.
Time period/duration: Ongoing beginning spring 2023
In alignment with the ISP, our 4-year graduation rates are under consideration by a variety of constituents and equity considerations are embedded within those discussions. A cross-campus team has been created by the President to analyze student success metrics related to various demographic categories (underrepresented minorities, first-generation students, limited-income students, transfer students, etc.) and develop actionable recommendations to implement in 2023. Academic indicators have been identified, and we are now establishing working definitions of the observed equity gaps in success metrics and disaggregating the data to analyze the impact of high-impact practices, student services, student mindset, and sense of belonging among various targeted student populations. Since 2022, several new roles have been created to focus on this work in OUE; (1) Director of DEI Initiatives, (2) Transfer Success Advisor, (3) Program and Operations Manager to support First-Gen and Limited Income Student Initiatives, and (4) Student Success Specialist to support Retention & Completion Initiatives.
- Transfer student LLC pilot launched in fall 2023, which includes 90 beds for transfer students, with priority given to students who are also URM, limited-income, and/or first-gen.
- Launch DEI Faculty Fellows pilot to identify equity gaps across the Institute and create projects to address these gaps; Fellows will come from departments, colleges, and schools across the Institute.
- College of Engineering plans to build relationships with admitted transfer students before they arrive at Tech to make sure they have the completed necessary courses before matriculating at GT to help ensure they can complete their degree in a timely manner; pathway transfer students will be targeted for this initiative.
- Analyze student data related to usage of student support services, including on-campus housing, health and well-being services, tutoring, advising, etc.
- Explore possibility of transfer students cross-registering for certain classes in transfer pathway or dual degree programs (a joint effort with curricular complexity project).
- OUE’s Transfer Success Advisor hired by the iGniTe summer session program to further develop transfer opportunities for summer semester.
- While hiring is underway for the Student Success Specialist, the Transfer Success Advisor role is vacant requiring a search to fill the role.
- Decentralized services and their data collection processes.
- Lack of resources/bandwidth for advising in larger departments and schools.
