Action Research Blog Week 4

To date, I have received no peer comments; however, as I review other plans, I think that my focus/emphasis on technology may need to be increased.  Because most of my peers are K-12 employees, college graduation rates may not be so relevant.

I do plan modify the plan to increase student, faculty and staff utilization of the degree audit feature in our student portal. In preliminary discussions with graduation staff indicates they continued to use paper degree plans to audit and award degrees. Although we have had web-based CAPP for several years now, staff preferred the “old way.” I will need to add training to build confidence and capacity for the “practitioners” and then included academic advisors, faculty advisors and finally students.  Practitioners will find the time to degree and online course substitutions will save time; advisors can use the feature to discuss the degree plan options and the consequences (good and bad) if a student changes their major; and faculty advisors can leverage the feature in advising sessions with students.

Inclement weather and conference schedules prevented an in-person meeting with my site supervisor this week; however, we have been in contact via phone and email.  I discussed my concern regarding the need to emphasize technology innovation into the plan.  He encouraged me to explore increasing the utilization of the degree audit feature in the student portal…and reminded me that my original internship plan included technology innovations. 

We did discuss how to introduce the initiative with the staff during the Student Affairs update on Friday.  He encouraged me to focus on the positive and share simple math and simple solutions to maintain a laser focus on the graduation rate.  The most simple math: for every 19 students in the IPEDS cohort that graduate with 150% of their degree plan increase the rate by 1%. The most simple solution: automated degree audit.

This summer we began focusing on the graduation rate, so my mentor asked me to determine how much we have impacted the rate thus far with only the graduation staff focused on the initiative. While we still have time to impact the 2010 rate, to date it has increased by 3.9% from 2009 (13% to 16.9%). Our goal of doubling that 2009 rate may not be impossible. One student at a time. 

Action Research EDLD5301 Week Three Reflection

This week got away from me, but I was able to regroup and complete the assignments. I am fortunate in that all initiatives at the college must follow a specific protocol that includes evaluation, both formative and summative. I am also fortunate to have researchers available to conduct and analyze both the qualitative and quantitative data. 

Graduation rate is difficult because our headcount continue to increase dramatically, but we can't seem to move the needle when is comes to the rate. I am hoping as a result of being laser focused on the IPEDS cohorts we will move the needle.  We have focused on at risk students for so long, it is refreshing to focus on students who are doing the "right thing." ...sounds very similar to Raymond Padilla's asset model.

Action Research EDLD 5301 Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal: Create, develop and design strategies for the timely completion of degrees and/or certificates by the IPEDS graduation cohort. The institutional goal is to double the graduation rate of the cohort students by implementing immediate and long term solutions for maintaining high completion rates for the cohorts over time.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Policy and Practice Review Review departmental policies and student practices for barriers	Division Leaders and Deans Curriculum Officer Registrar	Spring 2011 – Summer 2011	Board Policies Course Catalogs for each Cohort	Student satisfaction Increase in graduation applications and rate
Identify IPEDS Cohort Graduates Designate Cohorts on Rosters Provide names and data of cohort students to Deans and Chairs Provide stakeholder with update on cohort performance	Information Services & Planning	Complete by February 2, 2011 Ongoing for future cohorts	Internet Native Banner ODS Clearinghouse	Report usage
Conduct Degree Audits for Cohort Eligible Students 2008 cohort Associate degree completion by August 2011 2009 cohort Associate degree completion by August 2012 2010 cohort Certificate degree completion by December 2011 Associate degree completion by August 2012 Send notices to all cohort students on their progress toward completion	Registrar Student Success Specialists	Audit must be conducted one term prior cohort graduation to leverage registration Ongoing	Web CAPP	Increase in graduation applications and rate
CAPP – Degree Audit Training for Faculty, Staff and Students Circuit training for the degree audit feature on JagNet Train all student affairs staff to facilitate degree audit for students in campus Welcome Centers Develop training calendar for traditional and dual credit students	Staff – Office of Admissions and Records Staff Outreach	February 14 – April 1, 2011 Ongoing for entering cohorts and dual credit students	Web CAPP Centers for Learning Excellence Welcome Centers Student Portal	Increased student, faculty and staff utilization
Automate Graduation Application for Students Paperless (online) application process. Develop workflow to send email confirmation/notice of receipt/status to appropriate chair.	Division Leaders and Deans Curriculum Officer Registrar Webmaster	Complete by April 1, 2011	Web CAPP College Webpages	Increased application submission and time to award
Reverse Transfer Opt-In for current cohorts – Apply Texas	Registrar	Completed for 2010 cohort	Apply Texas	Monitor number of students who opt-in
Streamline Course Substitutions Go paperless Mainstream common substitutions	Registrar Curriculum Officer Webmaster	Summer 2011 Ongoing	Faculty/Staff Portal	Decreased time from application to award
Market to Faculty, Staff and Students Introduce current and future initiatives Market value of associate degree completion to prospective and current students	PR/Mktng Student Affairs – outreach Webmaster	Spring College-wide Professional Development Ongoing	Budget (?) Student Portal College Webpage	Increased graduation application and rate Increased dual credit matriculation

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/64494458?access_key=key-zu9wyao9dshplvga36k