Exhibitor – Commercial (for profit) Session
General Information:
Program Chair: Yes
Session Topic: Discussing MAP-Works and its effect on helping student success and retention
Session Title: MAP-Works: An Early-Warning Indicator of Student Success
Company/Organization Name: Educational Benchmarking (EBI)
Position Title: Director of Research and Development
First Name: Darlena
Last Name: Jones
Address: 1630 W. Elfindale
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip: 65807
Country: United States
Phone: 417-831-1810
Fax: 417-831-2227
E-mail: Darlena@webebi.com
Biographical Sketch of Program Chair:
Darlena Jones, Ph.D. is Director of Research and Development for Educational Benchmarking (EBI).
Currently, Darlena conducts research on EBI’s studies and has published her findings in numerous
journals. She has also presented results of EBI’s studies at many international conferences including
IUPUI’s Assessment Institute, Association for Institutional Research (AIR), NASPA, and ACPA. She has
also been an invited speaker for the past four years at the National Conference on First-Year Assessment.
Audio/Visual Equipment Needed:
LCD (Data) projector
Screen
Session Abstract:
Identifying students who are potentially at risk for retention or academic success is a complex issue.
Connecting those students with faculty/staff who can intervene is imperative. MAP-Works is an exciting
project that helps colleges and universities identify students who need intervention (either academically
or socially), provide information directly to faculty/staff connected to those students, and facilities
communications between faculty/staff in the support of student success.
Evidence of Assessment:
In-depth testing of data collected via the MAP-Works First-Year Transition Survey has been conducted by
Ball State University and Educational Benchmarking. Factor reliabilities and predictive validity are strong.
Focus groups of users indicate strong face validity of results. Longitudinal testing shows consistent
behaviors as expected. Outcomes data like persistence and end-of-term GPA collected from participating
institutions coupled with survey responses and pre-entrance characteristics inform analysis that composes
a risk indicator for each student. Subsequent focus groups with faculty/staff and students and outcomes
data reflect an impressive accuracy of this risk indicator further verifying the level of reliability and validity
of the data set.
Detailed Summary:
For many first-year/freshman students, the first college year is the first time they’re away from home and
independent. Life choices like time management, self-management, and healthy behaviors are in their
control. Some students make the transition easily while other students struggle. This period can set the
tone for what students expect, how much they get involved, and what they experience. Sophomore
students, having successfully transitioned to college life, find that a new set of transition experiences face
them. Sophomores can struggle with choosing a major or career path, family expectations, or increased
academic expectations and challenges.
EBI, in collaboration with Ball State University, developed a survey project to provide quality information
and to share the responsibility for student success. The project is titled Making Achievement Possible
Works (MAP-Works) because it is structured, literally, to help make student achievement possible and to
focus on early interventions. These surveys are designed to reveal the strengths and talents of students
and potential transition issues like homesickness and time management. Each student receives an
individualized report that helps them identify areas for further growth and connects them to campuses
resources. In addition, individual student information and feedback are provided to faculty/staff that are
directly connected to them (e.g. residence hall staff, academic advisors, first-year seminar instructors, or
retention committee members) to facilitate one-on-one interventions with students struggling in their
transition. Smaller check-up surveys are administered throughout the academic year to measure the key
transition areas. Faculty/staff use the information from these assessments to identify and support
individual students and to create group programming and monitor group progress.
Additional Presenters:
Yes
Presenter 1
First Name: Todd
Last Name: Pica
Title: Director of Business Development
Institution: Educational Benchmarking (EBI)
Address: 1630 W. Elfindale
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip Code: 65807
E-mail Address: Todd@webebi.com
Phone: 215-482-1664
Country: United States