THE DATA FOOTPRINT OF OUR STUDENTS

Mike Martineau, Ph.D.

THE QUESTIONS

Who are the students who do not persist past their sophomore year?

What factors help explain differences in outcomes?

What are the threats to completion?

DATA = CONTEXT

MY LENS

THE DATAThe next 3 slides compare 2 groups of

freshmen who started their 2nd year, and were:

RETAINED TO YEAR 3

NOT RETAINED

- vs -

% WITH A TERM GPA UNDER 2.0

7%

26%

Retained Group

Not Retained Group

% ENROLLING PART TIME

8%

23%

Retained Group

Not Retained Group

% UNDECLARED AT YEAR 2

17%

20%

Retained Group

Not Retained Group

% FULFILLING WR2 REQUIREMENTthrough year 2

88%

69%

Retained Group

Not Retained Group

% FULFILLING QA REQUIREMENTthrough year 2

87%

68%

Retained Group

Not Retained Group

BOTTOM LINEStudents are complicated, but we can observe a few things

In relation to sophomore retention, the data suggest:

• Credit load matters (not always causal)• Course choices + academic pathing matters• Academic performance at the U really matters

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?

Clemson UniversityOhio State University-Main Campus

SUNY at AlbanyUniversity of California-Irvine

University of California-Santa BarbaraUniversity of Delaware

University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of Maryland-College Park

University of Missouri-ColumbiaUniversity of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

University of Virginia-Main CampusVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusIowa State University

Michigan State UniversityStony Brook University

Texas A & M University-College StationUniversity of Arizona

University of California-Los AngelesUniversity of California-Santa Cruz

University of GeorgiaUniversity of Kansas

University of Massachusetts-AmherstUniversity of Mississippi

University of OregonWashington State University

Arizona State University-TempeGeorgia State UniversityOregon State University

Texas Tech UniversityUniversity of Arkansas

University of Cincinnati-Main CampusVirginia Commonwealth University

The University of Texas at DallasUniversity of Central Florida

University of LouisvilleUniversity of South Florida-Main Campus

University of North TexasRutgers University-New Brunswick

Wayne State University

Jump from 6 to 8 year rate:

1% pt

2% pts

3% pts

14% pts

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?

Last year, we had 3,601incoming freshmen

Historically,approximately

1,100will graduate in 4 years

4 YRS 5-6 YRS 7-8 YRS

Historically,approximately

1,200will graduate in 5-6 years

Historically,approximately

400will graduate in 7-8 years

BOTTOM LINE:

We have an disproportionate amount of students graduating after 6 years

Completion is not the issue

Time to completion is the issue

DISCLAIMER – PLEASE READ!Each and every one of our 32,770 students have a unique set of challenges and circumstances

As University staff and faculty, we are

“committed to helping students excel”

Data can help inform students’ decisions and experience at the U

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Costs of taking 1 additional year to graduate:TUITION + FEES• $6,000 - $9,000 (residents)

• 3%-4% increases in tuition each year

OPPORTUNITY COSTS• Foregoing salary with 4 yr degree

• Median salaries (BLS figures):

• Some college: $39,312

• Bachelor’s degree: $60,112

On average, students are foregoing an additional

$20,000 in earnings each year they do not graduate

WHAT CAN WE DO? [inform]

7

5

4

9

12

15

YEARS TO GRADUATECredits / Term[fall + spring only]

$-

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7YEAR

COST BY YEAR: ELIZA + ALEXANDER ELIZA

ALEXANDER

enrolls 15 credits per term

enrolls 9credits per term

Eliza’s total monetary costs:

$37,572

Alexander’s total monetary costs:

$47,913

Assumes resident tuition with 3.5% increase

+ $20k per year in foregone salary

WHAT CAN WE DO?

In addition to the monetary and opportunity costs, the risk of attrition is significant for part-time students

ALEXANDER Alexander should at least know:Historically, only about 55% of freshmen who begin part-time make it to their 2nd year

And only 23% of them graduate

WHAT CAN WE DO?

1. Online course offerings

2. Advisors

3. Scholarships

4. Schedule Builder

5. Civitas partnership

5 areas in which the University has invested:

ONLINE OFFERINGS

109

379

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2005

-200

6

2006

-200

7

2007

-200

8

2008

-200

9

2009

-201

0

2010

-201

1

2011

-201

2

2012

-201

3

2013

-201

4

2014

-201

5

2015

-201

6

2016

-201

7

# of credit-bearing courses

offered online

ADVISORS

In less than 4 years, the student-to-advisor ratio for the University:

2013

2016

349 to 1

248 to 1

SCHOLARSHIPS

$26 $25

$37 $42

$55 $52 $53

$70

$81 $85

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

TOTAL AID AWARDED TO UNDERGRADUATES[in millions]

Total scholarships and grants, all sources, excludes tuition waivers. OBIA common data set table H1

SCHEDULE BUILDER

% of seniors working 20+ hours / week:

11%

23%

Peers

U

2016 NSSE survey results

CIVITAS

Behavior that drives outcomes

Students that need help

Civitas helps us identi fy:

what will be different?

You’ve now had a drone-level view of our students

Mike Martineau, Ph.D.

obia.utah.edu