The Voluntary System of
Accountability
(VSA )
SM
AASCU & NASULGC
•
Represent over 600 public
institutions
•
Enroll 7.5 million students each
year
•
Award 70 percent of bachelor’s
degrees in U.S. each year
Goals
•
Provide consistent, comparable,
transparent information for
higher education stakeholders
•
Aid students and families in
college choice process
•
Demonstrate greater
institutional accountability for
student learning and development
College Portrait: A Voluntary
SM
System of Accountability
College Portrait: A Voluntary
SM
System of Accountability
•
5-page web reporting template
•
Standard, comparable format
•
Data elements based on focus
groups, higher education
community, research
•
Most elements compiled from
currently available data sources
College Portrait
•
Consumer Information
•
Student Experiences and
Perceptions
•
Student Learning Outcomes
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907 (765-494-4600)
The mission of Purdue University is to serve the
citizens of Indiana, the United States, and the
world through discovery that expands the realm
of knowledge, learning through dissemination
and preservation of knowledge, and
engagement through exchange of knowledge.
Institution can provide information on what makes the
campus distinctive and highlights special programs
and services through button links.
Student and Institutional
Characteristics
•
•
•
•
•
•
Enrollment
Graduate/Undergraduate
Full-time/Part-time
Gender
Race/Ethnicity
National/International
Average age
Housing arrangements
Degree opportunities
Transfer rates
Post graduate plans
Popular fields of study
Undergraduate Success &
Progress Rate
Graduated from State U
Still Enrolled at State U
Graduated from Another Institution
Still Enrolled at Another Institution
An 85% four-year success rate means that
85% of students starting in Fall 2000 either
graduated or are still enrolled at a higher
education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2000 entering class
shown in the graph to the left
• 4200 First-Time, Full-Time Students
• 2500 Full-Time Transfer Students
Alternative to single graduation rate –
shows student advancement through
higher education system
Data Source: National: Student Clearinghouse
Cost of Attendance and
Financial Aid
Typical Undergraduate Cost per Year without
Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Standard cost
numbers allow
gross comparison
across institutions
Total:
$24,254
Data Source: National: Student Clearinghouse
Financial Aid
Awarded to Undergraduates
Overall Financial Aid
Family Income-Based Aid
Loans
• 93% of Fall 2005 full-time
undergraduates received financial
aid of some type (including loans);
their average financial aid award
for the year was $12,162.
• 70% of Fall 2005 full-time
undergraduates received family
income-based grants or
scholarships; their average
award for the year was $7,596.
• 62% of Fall 2005 full-time
undergraduates received loans
(not including parent loans);
their average loan amount for
the year was $5,922.
Percent of Fall 2005 First-Time Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
Financial aid by
average amounts
and types
Note: Students may receive aid
from more than one source.
Data Sources: CDS & IPEDS
College Cost Calculator
The cost to attend State U varies based on the individual
circumstances of students and may be reduced through
grants and scholarships.
Click Here
To get a cost estimate for students like you!
Institutions can
customize VSA
calculator or use
their own
Individualized estimate
of net cost helps show
that college is
affordable
Data Source: VSA Cost Calculator or Institution Calculator
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907
(765-494-4600)
Institution can provide information on what makes the campus
distinctive and highlights special programs and services
through button links
Institution
Choice
Institution
Choice
Institution
Choice
Institution
Choice
Institution
Choice
Institution
Choice
Institution
Choice
Institution
Choice
Institution
Choice
e.g. Study
Abroad
e.g. Housing
Options
e.g. Student
Organizations
e.g. Learning
Communities
e.g. Info for
Adult Students
e.g. Outreach
e.g. Extension
Programs
e.g. Student
Growth
e.g. Athletics
Data Source: Institution
Executive Roundtable – April 17, 2007
Student Experiences
& Perceptions
Institutions will select one of four student surveys to
conduct and report results with six constructs that
academic research has shown to be correlated with
greater student learning and development:
-
active learning
group learning
experiences with diverse groups of people and
ideas
student satisfaction
institution commitment to student learning
and success
- student interaction with faculty and staff
Student Learning Outcomes
Evidence of student learning is reported
in two ways:
•
•
Program assessments/accreditations
(e.g. ABET) and professional licensure
exam pass rates (e.g. Nursing).
Pilot project: institution will select
one of three VSA approved tests
to measure student learning gains in
critical thinking and written
communication.
Learning Outcomes Tests:
1) CLA: Collegiate Learning Assessment
2) MAPP: Motivational Appraisal of Personal
Potential
3) CAAP: Collegiate Assessment of
Academic Proficiency
Student Learning Outcomes
Learning Gains Between Freshman Year and Senior Year
Critical Thinking
The increase in learning for the critical thinking module is <what would be expected> at an
institution with students of similar academic abilities.
Writing Essay
The increase in learning for the writing essay is <what would be expected> at an institution
with students of similar academic abilities.
Common methodology evaluates whether learning gains (value-added) at an
institution are what would be expected given the academic abilities of its students.
Average Institutional Scores
Freshman
Score
Senior
Score
Critical Thinking
44
65
Writing Essay
38
57
CAAP Score Range: 20 to 80
Actual average scores
demonstrate absolute
learning gains between
freshmen and seniors
Required Reporting Schedule
•
Student Family Information within 3
months
•
Success & Progress Rate within 1 year
•
Future Plans within 2 years
•
Student Experiences and perceptions
within 2 years
•
Student Learning Outcomes pilot project
within 4 years
VSA Participation
•
Voluntary
•
4-year, public institutions
•
Institutions may withdraw at any
time in good faith