Presentation to Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Readiness Conference | April 13, 2011Richard M. Freeland, Commissioner of Higher Education

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The Vision Project

Today’s Agenda: Ways to strengthen &

deepen the K12/public higher ed partnership to enhance student success

Context for this effort: The Vision Project

Special focus: college readiness & college participation by high school graduates

A New Agenda for Public Higher Ed

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The Vision Project will:▪ Articulate the most important

contributions of public higher education to the Commonwealth

▪ Engage all public campuses in achieving these contributions

▪ Hold public higher education accountable for a high level of achievement in this work

▪ Generate greater appreciation of and support for public higher education

In sum, the Vision Project will demonstrate that public higher education can act in a unified and focused way to ensure the future well-being of the Commonwealth

and that we are ready to hold ourselves accountable for results to the people of the state.

The Vision Project

The Strategy

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The Vision Project

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We will produce the best-educated

citizenry and workforce in the nation.

We will be a national leader in research

that drives economic development.

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Our Vision: A Bid for National Leadership

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The Vision Project

National Leadership in Education College-going rates of high school graduates Graduation and student success rates Alignment of degree production with key areas of

workforce need Academic achievements on campus-level and national

assessments of learning

Comparable learning outcomes among different ethnic/racial, economic and gender groups

National Leadership in Research Research activity related to economic development Economic activity derived from research

Key Outcomes: Measuring Achievement

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Where Are We Now?College-Going Rates

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The Vision Project

College-Going Rates: National Comparisons

Source: 2008 1st Time Undergraduate Students (IPEDS) divided by

2008 WICHE High School Graduation Projections

Based on an analysis developed by Tom Mortensen, (Postsecondary Education Opportunity), Massachusetts has the

third highest enrollment rate in the nation and second highest in the Northeast for postsecondary education.

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

Higher Education Enrollment Rates (Top Ten in the Nation)

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The Vision Project

College-Going Rates: Disaggregated

Percent of 18-24 Year Olds Enrolled in College by

Race/Ethnicity

Percentage Point Gaps in Participation

White Black Gap

White Hispanic

Gap

White - Minority

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

United States Northeast

Source: American Community Survey data provided by NCHEMS

White Minority Black Hispanic0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

United States Northeast Massachusetts

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Where Are We Now?College Readiness

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The Vision Project

College Readiness: Remedial Education

MA Public HS Graduates Enrollment in Developmental Courses in Initial Fall Term

2004

2009Writing

Math

Source: Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) 10

The Vision Project

College Readiness: Remedial Education

Any Developmental WritingMath

Enrollment in Developmental Courses (Race/Ethnicity Gaps)

White Black Hispanic

Source: DHE 11

The Vision Project

Work of DHE Organized Around Advancing Vision Project Project teams for each educational

goal Participation by campus personnel

and non-academic stakeholders Research supports policy, program

interventions Metrics to measure progress

The Road Ahead

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The Vision Project

College Participation—Areas of Planning Focus

College-Going Rates Student Understanding of College Pre-College College Experiences College Participation

College Readiness Rigorous High School Curriculum

Aligned with College Expectations Educator Excellence Tracking of Student Performance

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The Vision Project

College Participation—Planning Groups

College Participation Advisory Group Align MassCore with University Admissions Standards Early Assessment Strategies for underserved Students

Other Groups (partial list) Achieve/America Diploma Project/PARCC Readiness Ctrs.’ Common Core Standards

Implementation Groups Race to the Top (RTTT) Implementation Advisory Group

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The Vision Project

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…We will achieve our goals in college participation only

through strong collaboration between K12 and Public

Higher Education.

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In the End…

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