UMKC’s A2S Initiative
An initiative of the University of
Missouri System, the National
Association of System Heads (NASH)
and the Education Trust
UMKC A2S Initiative
• Access to Success Initiative (A2S) goal is
to increase access and success
(graduation) rates for low income students
and underrepresented minorities as
defined by the Education Trust/NASH
• Halve the gap between the target
populations and the undergraduate
student populations as a whole.
Access to Success (A2S)
Initiative
• There are 24 state university systems
involved in this national initiative.
• Within the 24 systems, there are 378
campuses and 3 million students
• All are committed to cutting access and
success gaps for low-income and
underrepresented minority students in
half by 2015
Access to Success (A2S)
Initiative
California State University System
Connecticut State University System
State University System of Florida
University of Hawaii System
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Ed
University of Louisiana System
Louisiana Board of Regents
Southern University A&M College System
University of Missouri System
University System of Maryland
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
Montana University System
City University of New York
State University of New York
University of North Carolina System
University System of Ohio
PA State System of Higher Education
University of Puerto Rico System
Rhode Island Board of Governors
South Dakota Board of Regents
Tennessee Board of Regents
Vermont State Colleges
University of Wisconsin System
UMKC A2S Initiative
• System Plan
– Coordinated with the development of campus plan
– Lead by Deborah Noble Triplett, appointed by
President Forsee
• Campus Plans
– Mel Tyler appointed by Chancellor Morton to lead
UMKC plan after Cindy Pemberton stepped down
– Campus A2S team in place to develop plan and
assist the Chancellor in monitoring our strategies
and progress toward meeting goals
UMKC A2S Team Members
•
•
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•
•
Mel Tyler, Chair
Larry Bunce
Veronica Castro
Jennifer DeHaemers
Maithe Enriquez
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•
Kristi Ryujin
Dianne Smith
Doug Swink
W.C. Vance
Tiffany Williams
UMKC A2S Initiative
• Role of the team is to:
– Analyze data regarding the target populations
– Identify the gaps in both access and success for
these students
– Make recommendations on how to address the
gaps
– Ensure that targeted populations are being
considered in university initiatives
UMKC A2S Initiative
• The larger issue here is UMKC’s overall
low graduation and retention rates for all
students
• While we will work to meet the goals of
the initiative, we want to increase
retention and graduation rates for all
students as stated in our strategic plan
UMKC A2S Initiative
• UMKC team identified barriers to
access and success for the target
populations and the goals of A2S
• Developed a plan based on these goals
and the UMKC Strategic Plan
• Based on 6 key areas
UMKC A2S Initiative
• Ensure financial support for target
populations
• Provide High-Impact Learning
Experiences
• Enhance the teaching and learning
environment, specifically addressing
strategies for target populations
UMKC A2S Initiative
• Ensure student academic progress to
degree completion for target
populations
• Build an inclusive environment and
campus culture for all students, staff
and faculty
• Build a data-driven culture to support
degree completion
UMKC A2S Initiative
• It will take the campus community to
reach the goals
• Some initiatives begin now while others
start over the next couple of years
• Students enrolling and enrolled now are
the ones to be impacted
UMKC A2S Initiative
• The A2S plan is aligned with UMKC Strategic
Plan
• Special emphasis on monitoring the
effectiveness of our strategies in positively
impacting the target populations
• Accountability
• Data and Performance management
• Routines – regular reporting to system President
and UMKC Chancellor and Direct Reports
UMKC A2S Initiative
• Specific Goals
• Leading Indicators of
Success
UMKC A2S Initiative:
baseline data
UMKC A2S Initiative:
baseline data
UMKC A2S Initiative:
baseline data
UMKC A2S Initiative:
baseline data
UMKC A2S Initiative: Goals
UMKC
Leading Indicators of Success
• Track requests for transcripts being sent to
other higher education institutions
• Delinquent in making payment on UMKC fees
• Withdrawal from any courses yet still enrolled
• Total withdrawal from UMKC
• A2S populations take advantage of priority
registration periods
UMKC
Leading Indicators of Success
• Review performance of transfer
students who enter with
– 0-30 credit hours
– 31-60 credit hours
– 61+ credit hours
– an Associate in Arts degree
– a GPA of 2.0 – 3.0
– a GPA of 3.1 – 4.0
UMKC
Leading Indicators of Success
• Review performance of freshman and
transfer students who enter deciding vs.
decided
• 80% completion rate per semester and
at year’s end
• 12 credit hours completed per semester
• 24 credit hours completed per year
UMKC
Leading Indicators of Success
• Freshman enrolled in college level math
first semester/first year
• Freshman enrolled in college level
English first semester/first year
• Completed college level math and
English first semester/first year
UMKC
Leading Indicators of Success
• Review performance of first year
students who had less than 4 years of
high school English and math
• Review ACT and Core GPA in high
school and correlate to student success
UMKC
Leading Indicators of Success
• A huge effort but national research
would indicate we are on the right path
• Currently gathering baseline data on all
indicators
• Will track on a semester or annual basis
• Develop intervention strategies based
on data