Student success projects are being performed in every college based on data provided through the METRICS Dashboard. The METRICS Dashboard was launched in fall 2022 as a way to provide actionable information that is meaningful, relevant to the context of student success and/or barriers to that success, and provide insight into potential challenges to student success. The METRICS Dashboard focuses on the following metrics that can be used by college and institutional leaders to identify potential challenges so the challenges can be explored more deeply and lead to interventions that can be employed to improve student success.
- Major changes (changes into and out of majors by major)
- Enrollment (Longitudinal headcount from fall to spring by cohort)
- Teaching (Highest/lowest course GPAs, DFWIs, variance between sections, and waitlists)
- Returning Metric (# & % of students who return from fall to fall)
- Intensity Metric (Average Credit Hours Attempted)
- Completion Metric (in-house measure of % of students completing a program at KSU)
- Student Engagement Metrics (Scholarships, Double Owl, Tutoring, Advising, Honors, Student Affairs, Career Advising, Study Abroad, Summer Enrollment)
Additionally, internal funding has been allocated to award student success grants through a competitive process over a three-year period (2021 – 2024).
Evaluation Plan and measures: All projects have identified outcomes, timelines, and measures. Leadership keeps an eye on the numbers and percentage of projects on track. KPIs vary by college and by project.
Baseline measure (for each KPI):Baseline measures vary from college to college and project to project, but stakeholders and leaders can look at the Accountability Tools and annual internal grant award reports to see which projects are on track or have been completed.
Current/most recent data (for each KPI) [NEW for 2023]:
Internal funding in the amount of $882,750 was used to fund student success grants across eight colleges in the university.
Goal or targets (for each KPI): Goals and targets vary from college to college and project to project.
Time period/duration: On going
In 2022, Academic Colleges selected at least three student success outcomes that utilize the METRICS Dashboard data to identify and monitor targeted interventions to focus on for the year. Academic programs likewise used the METRICS dashboard data to select at least one student success outcome for the year.
Throughout the spring, the interim AVP for Student Success, Director of Academic Finance and Analysis, and Student Success Specialists met monthly with college leadership to receive updates on the status of METRICS goals and provide guidance and assistance as needed. Progress was made toward achieving most of the goals established. For example, a goal set by many colleges was to increase the percentage of full-time students who enroll in 15 or more hours. Four percent more KSU freshmen enrolled in 15 or more hours in Spring 2023 compared to Spring 2022. In July 2023, a “METRICS Goals, Accomplishments, and Lessons Learned” meeting was held in which Assistant/Associate Deans presented. This meeting was meant to strengthen collaborations and promote the expansion of successful projects across colleges.
In fall 2023, the Academic Colleges again selected student success outcomes that utilize the now systemwide METRICS Dashboard data to identify and monitor targeted interventions to focus on for the year.
Funded projects were assessed at the end of spring 2023 to determine if they should be continued for a third year, changed or retired.
The work of the colleges will continue to be tracked through the remainder of the year. Monthly meetings with college leadership will continue to be held.
The student success grants that were offered are ending this academic year. A portion of the funding used to support these grants has been permanently secured and will be offered on a competitive basis to colleges that have achieved the greatest measurable impact. The funds will be offered for programmatic support or part-time help to continue to advance initiatives that have evidenced the greatest impact. A call for proposals has been distributed and award decisions will be made in spring 2024.
Challenges:
The main challenge that remains will be to keep the wide slate of leaders across the campus from losing sight of this work as other challenges inevitably arise.
Support Needed:
It would be helpful to connect with other institutions to discuss the interventions they have developed with the aid of the METRICS dashboard.
