Data Driven Education Assembled Education

March 29, 2014

College Attrition Rate

44.5% *National Center for Education Statistics

www.postsecondary.org

•  Nearly 18 million students will be enrolled in higher education in the fall. Nearly half are expected to drop out before earning any type of degree.  

•  Reasons for dropout vary widely, and programs/schools and support professionals are facing increased pressure to keep students in the college pipeline.  

•  In order to reverse these trends, students need a comfortable and familiar method of articulating their concerns to supportive professionals.

COLLEGE PIPELINE

DEGREE COMPLETION

LACK OF ACADEMIC

PREP

FINANCIAL CONCERNS

PERSONAL PROBLEMS

The Systemic Problem

“In God we trust. All others must bring data.”

– W. Edwards Deming

Why Do We Need It?

•  To measure results – Of teaching – Of learning – Of programs

•  To predict outcomes •  To understand behaviors

Secondary Education & Student Behavior

•  Big part of our job •  Shaping and molding behaviors to

conform to our expectations •  Constantly measuring it •  Look to families to do their part

Postsecondary Education & Student Behavior

•  It’s no longer our job •  Who you are has largely been shaped •  Don’t invest time measuring it •  Family—what family?

The Reality •  Students ARE struggling:

–  59% of incoming freshmen reported that they have developed a solid system of self-discipline for keeping up with schoolwork

–  40 % of incoming, first-generation freshmen indicated they have "very distracting and troublesome" financial problems—a proportion that has generally held steady over the last six years (Nat’l Freshman Attitudes Report – 2013 Noel-Levitz)

•  Students FEEL lost/disconnected: –  “Belongingness” is essential to individual growth

and existence within a community. Strayhorn (2012)

Student Engagement & Student Experience

www.postsecondary.org

User Stories

"As a __ I want to __ so that _ because ___”

– As a student I want to fit in so that I feel like I’m a part of the community because that will help me graduate

– As a student I want to have an adult on campus I can trust so that I can see them if I’m having any issues because that will help get through the rough patches.

Agile Development

•  Data are limited—blunt instruments •  Capturing data at prescribed moments

that are too infrequent •  Using data to inform next year’s

programs

Predictive Modeling

•  Current systems identify and elevate only some of the problems

•  Rely heavily on multiple triggers to create an algorithm

•  Paint a picture that may not be accurate and is often incomplete

What Data Are We Missing?

•  Satisfaction

•  Confidence and self-efficacy

•  Personal life

•  Connectedness/sense of belonging

Inadequate Solutions & Tools

•  Data we have are blunt instruments – Capturing limited data at prescribed times

throughout the school year

•  Current systems identify and elevate only some of the problems

•  Academic advisors are often guessing who needs their help

An Advisor In Every Student’s Pocket

Capture Meaningful Data

Stay Connected

Real-Time Actionable Data

Tapping Into What Matters

•  Belonging matters

•  Relationships matter

•  Grit and tenacity matter

It is one thing to understand why students leave; it is another to know what institutions can do to help students stay and succeed.

Leaving is not the mirror image of staying. (Tinto, 2006)