Fort Valley State University-[node:field-date:custom:Y]--Predictive Analytics

High Impact Strategy

Use Data Analytics:  FVSU is using data analytics to better inform decision makers on campus. The beginning phases of this effort started with just using SPSS and Excel but it is quickly grown to using Tableau, data visualization software, and currently there is a proposal to purchase EAB Student Success Collaborative, which will give FVSU access to Grades First as well. This initiative will allow FVSU to use predictive analytics to identify students who are “off track” and to help them understand their likelihood of success in programs and to ensure students who are off track receive timely and targeted advising intervention. Georgia State University seems to be the leading entity to try this collaborative in the State of Georgia and they have proven the collaborative works. Columbus State University and Savannah State University have come on board as well and now FVSU is moving in this direction if the funding is available.

Related Goal

Goal 4:  Provide intrusive advising to keep students on track to graduate

Summary of Activities

The Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness has been using Tableau to better prepare data visualizations and providing data dashboards to key decision makers. This level of access to data has increased the culture of data driven decisions being made on the campus. Additionally, weekly data reports are being developed to help contextualize key data for the institution. The end game is better decision making. A proposal has been submitted to the Title III Administrator for the purchase of the EAB Student Success Collaborative. EAB Student Success Collaborative (SSC) combines technology, consulting, and best practice research to help colleges and universities use data to improve retention and graduation rates. At the core of SSC is a proprietary predictive model that identifies at-risk students as well an analytics engine that isolates systemic barriers to degree completion. To complement the predictive model, SSC provides advisors and other student success specialists with powerful communication and workflow tools to transform insight to action and administrators with customized change management guidance to support institutional transformation. Also, Accutrac is being used to monitor students as they utilize the academic support services around the campus. It is being used to keep up with student contacts as FVSU begins to identify areas of support that have a correlation with overall student success. This feature will work well with EAB Student Success Collaborative as we enhance our Predictive Analysis capabilities. The audience for these data consists of Key Stakeholders including President’s Cabinet members and other frontline decision makers.

Baseline Status

Limited Predictive Modeling taking place initially, this only includes the manual process of using SPSS and Excel. The Retention Rate at FVSU is 56.7% and the six-year graduation rate is approximately 28.5%.

Interim Measures of Progress

Data driven decisions being made based on data reports. 90% of the President’s Cabinet members will state on the Administrative Survey that decisions being made are based on relevant data.  85% of at risk students who are enrolled at FVSU will be identified and advised by Retention Specialists. Retention and graduation rates at FVSU will increase by 5%.

Measures of Success

Indirect Assessments to include surveys and an increase in graduation, retention, and course completion rates.

Lessons Learned

Funding is needed to move this initiative forward. Title III has been instrumental in moving these efforts forward and FVSU is currently deciding on the EAB Student Success Collaboration. The timeline for this is before the end of Fiscal Year 2016. Training sessions for Tableau and EAB (when we receive it) will be scheduled asap. The Tableau rollout has happened and three sessions with Dean’s at FVSU have been facilitated.