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.