Uncovering the Momentum of 15 to Finish Blake Johnson | Director of Communications, Complete College America Dhanfu El-Hajj Elston | Executive Director of Student Success and Transition, Purdue University Calumet Wayne Hill | Chief Marketing Office, The University of Akron Kathy Johnson | Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education, IUPUI Serene Klempin | Research Associate, Community College Research Center Fifteen to Finish DC Statewide Initiatives States with Campus-Based Initiatives 2 The Power of 15 Credits: More students graduate when they complete 30+ credits in their first year. Bachelor’s Degree 79% 69% 37% 21% 30+ credits 24–29.9 credits 12–23.9 credits 0–11.9 credits The Power of 15 Credits: More students graduate when they complete 30+ credits in their first year. Associate Degrees 62% 43% 27% 10% 30+ credits 24–29.9 credits 12–23.9 credits 0–11.9 credits Most students DON’T take the credit hours necessary to graduate on time. Full-time Students Taking 15+ Credits Per Semester Hawai’i’s 15 to Finish Significant results in campaign’s very first year. 15 or More Credits Attempted UH First-Time Freshmen, Fall 2012 Maoa Hilo West Oahu UHCCs 46.9 41.5 39.3 13.5 7.8 Fall 2009 55.5 11.2 Fall 2010 Fall 2011 Fall 2012 Wayne Hill, Associate Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer The University of Akron CAMPAIGN GOALS 1. Change campus language/culture to “Full Time” = 15/16 credit hours per semester 30 to 32 hours per year (including summer) 2. Increase % of incoming freshmen taking 15/16 credit hours per semester 3. Increase % of continuing students taking 15/16 credit hours per semester ANALYSIS 2010-12 COHORTS HIGHLIGHTS ACT & credits attempted-first fall semester Retention rate (%) Mean first-year GPA Mean first-year credits earned ACT < 20 & Credits (<15) 53.00% 2.08 19.2 1. Retention rates ranged from 10% higher to 23% higher for students taking 15+ credits 24.7 2. First-year GPA was 0.28 to 0.36 higher, on average, for students taking 15+ credits 23.8 3. Students taking 15+ credits earned, on average, 2 to 6 more credits toward degree ACT < 20 & Credits (15+) ACT 20-23 & Credits (<15) ACT 20-23 & Credits (15+) 65.50% 61.70% 72.50% 2.44 2.37 2.7 27.4 4. Students taking 15+ credits were similar in age to students taking <15 credits ANALYSIS 2010-12 COHORTS HIGHLIGHTS ACT & credits attempted-first fall semester Retention rate (%) Mean first-year GPA Mean first-year credits earned ACT 23-27 & Credits (<15) 70.10% 2.67 29.2 ACT 23-27 & Credits (15+) 79.90% 2.95 31.2 ACT ≥ 27 & Credits (<15) 80.60% 3.01 34.6 ACT ≥ 27 & Credits (15+) 88.70% 3.32 40.6 1. Retention rates ranged from 10% higher to 23% higher for students taking 15+ credits 2. First year GPA was 0.28 to 0.36 higher, on average, for students taking 15+ credits 3. Students taking 15+ credits earned, on average, 2 to 6 more credits toward degree 4. Students taking 15+ credits were similar in age to students taking <15 credits TACTICS Deans presentation Advisors discussion Messaging and graphic identity (right) Video (right) Web page (right) www.uakron.edu/finish TACTICS New Student Orientation presentations Poster (right) E-mail timed to registration TV information screens on campus/residence halls Campus and student e-mail announcements TACTICS Social media (right) Table tents Parent newsletter COST: ABOUT $1,500 RESULTS Percent of NEW full-time freshmen registered for 15+ credits 80% 70% 60% 50% Direct Admit 40% Emergent 30% Preparatory 20% Total College Ready Adult 10% 0% Fall 2013 (census) Fall 2014 (census) Your questions Wayne Hill, Associate Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer whill@uakron.edu | 330-972-2148 | The University of Akron Data-Driven Strategy: • Institutional Research Report produced in April, 2013 and shared with Council on Retention and Graduation • IR director shared briefer version with all academic advisors engaged in Summer 2013 & 14 Orientation 15 or More Credit Hours Attempted and Completed - Fall Semester % 15 IU Credit Hours or More Attempted and Earned First-time, Full-Time Beginners 63% 51% 38% 23% 21% 17% 15% 2005 2006 24% 23% 18% 16% 2007 2008 29% 29% 28% 27% 23% 22% 22% 21% 2009 % 15 or More Attempted 2010 2011 2012 2013 % 15 or More Earned 2014 15 or More Credit Hours Attempted Spring 2014 % 15 Credit Hours or More Attempted and Earned in the Spring Semester, First-time, Full-time Beginners Enrolling in Spring 55% 36% 35% 30% 23% 25% 38% 27% 41% 29% 40% 27% 38% 37% 27% 39% 27% 17% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 % 15 or More Attempted 2010 2011 2012 % 15 or More Earned 2013 Many Students Attempting (but not completing) 15 Still Earned Credit Number of Students and Credits Earned Spring Semester N=471 114 120 108 100 80 60 40 39 20 19 20 6 0 0 1 1 2 3 9 5 4 5 6 29 11 8 7 8 9 38 37 27 10 11 12 13 14 Communications to Students Banners, posters and digital signs: Building a Culture of Timely Graduation Background Institution by the Numbers Located in Hammond, IN Public Master’s University 8,600 undergraduate enrollment 31% overall graduation rate 74% first-year retention rate PUC has long served a population of underserved students: first-generation, commuter, low socio-economic status, and racial minorities Steady transition from parttime non-traditional to traditional full-time students Fall 2013 began focus on timely graduation Purdue University Calumet Full-Time is 15 Comprehensive Institutional Plan New Student Orientation o Clear, Introductory Messages to Students & Parents Degree Maps (4-year) Block Scheduling o (Opt-Out vs. Opt-In to 15 credit hours) Reinforced Messages o Academic Advisors o Marketing Campaign % First-Time, Full-Time Students Enrolled in 15+ Credit Hours (1st semester) 66% 70% 60% 50% 40% 40% 30% 27% 27% 2011 2012 20% 10% 0% 2013 2014 COMMUNITY COLLEGE RESEARCH CENTER CCA Convening / December 1, 2014 15-Credit Strategies Type of Strategy Definition Financial incentives Completion of 15 credits per semester required for financial aid or scholarships Public awareness campaigns Advertising importance of 15 credits for on-time completion through “15 to Finish” campaigns marketed to the general public through TV, other media Institutional awareness campaigns Within-campus efforts to promote importance of 15 credits for on-time completion Structural reforms State or institutional policies making 15 credits the normal full-time course load 24 COMMUNITY COLLEGE RESEARCH CENTER CCA Convening / December 1, 2014 15-Credit Policies Type of Policy Definition Banded tuition Fixed tuition rate for a specified range of credits, with tuition set at price of an intermediate number of credits Flat banded tuition Fixed tuition rate for a specified range of credits, with tuition at the cost of lowest number of credits within credit range Tuition cap No additional tuition charged above a set number of credits Default financial aid processing Full-time status used as the default for processing all financial aid applications. Degree credit cap Limiting the number of credits required for associate degree to 60 and the number of credits required for a bachelor to 120 25 COMMUNITY COLLEGE RESEARCH CENTER CCA Convening / December 1, 2014 Promising 15-Credit Research % Attainment BA completion by 1st semester credit load – without controls. (BPS 04/09 data) 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 6 Credits 12 Credits 15 Credits Community College Non-Selective 4-Year Selective 4-Year Monaghan, D., & Attewell, P. (2014, April). Academic momentum at the gate: Does first-semester credit load affect postsecondary completion? Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA. 26