Alternative System for Assessing Student Graduation

Student data and success rates are a hot topic for university administrators. States and universities are seeking methods of accurately tracking data to better determine a whole host of issues ranging from legislature to funding. Six educational associations and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have been working on an alternative system they believe will be more accurate in its reflection of higher education graduation rates. 

New methods of tracking student success rates have been developed through using a sign-up service called the Student Achievement Measure (SAM). Some universities may be attracted to the alternative methods of tracking student success rates. The National Student Clearinghouse will keep track of posted data for transfer students, two-year colleges and part-time students. 

Some universities and states have argued that reliance on the Federal Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System is not as accurate as once thought. Students that start at one college but finish at another are left out of the total data mix and this skews graduation rates. States are seeking better methods of tracking and using student data to adjust their own policies. 

Part of the reason this has become such a concern is that the older methods of enrolling a student in one university and expecting them to stay there throughout their entire educational process is unlikely. Students are more transient, work full-time jobs, and may take courses online when compared to fifty years ago. Focusing only on enrollment and graduation from the same university leaves out a larger percentage of people that bounce in, out, and transfer as they complete their degrees. 

The advantage of a more comprehensive system is that it can influence both state and federal legislation as it offers a more comprehensive picture of graduation rates and the educational experience. For example, students who are first generation college students may not have the same financial resources as other families. Their educational approach may include a number of transfers and a few semesters out of school where such students deal with life issues. The traditional tracking system would simply drop them. With a new system it is possible to track the entire educational process and reflect more accurately their educational paths.

Another issue is that government funding is increasingly being tied to these federal statistics. Those universities that have an important role in serving non-traditional students may appear in a negative light only because the right information is not being collected. Non-traditional students are more likely unable to stop working, move into a dormitory, and have wealthy parents who finance their education while paying their bills. This means their successes will not be tracked, understood, or counted if they don’t fit under a traditional tracking model.

Student Achievement Measure

Chronicle of Higher Education

Inside Higher Education

Association Now

2013 Academic Resource Conference San Diego California

The WASC Academic Resource Conference has ended as a positive success with new research and approaches being presented. The conference focused on new education models, student assessment, competency based education, and many other aspects of the modern educational experience. Academic administrators and leaders piled into the Hilton Hotel in San Diego between April 10^th and 12^th, 2013 to learn about the latest trends. 

Of interest at the conference were the results of a number of studies that included student assessment, preparedness of current students entering college, teaching values, and a push to graduate students within four years. These concepts fit well within the genre of the conference topics and provided some insight into some of the struggles that modern colleges face. 

 

The research on student preparedness indicated that a large percentage of students entering into college are unprepared for the academic work at the college level. Somewhere along the line public education failed to raise their skills to an adequate level. They were weak on math, reading, writing, and other basic skills forcing some colleges to provide remedial education to pick up their levels. Such students were at risk for dropping courses or becoming academic causalities when they couldn’t overcome the challenges.

 

In addition, a presentation on basic value systems and its assessment were included as one of the presentations. This assessment included a self-assessment and instructor assessment of student values such as integrity, leadership, honor, and other constructs. As a methodology I believe this is beneficial to teach students what these concepts are and encourage them to think of their career development upon that line. Today’s students become tomorrow’s managers and leaders and should have developed the right personality characteristics.

 

Furthermore, modern analytics and software are used in student assessments that encourage better levels of learning performance. These new assessment tools are used to help encourage growth and development across a number of different vantage points. Colleges, who feel the economic crunch, are seeking ways to encourage stronger and more accurate learning assessment to justify their approaches and societal value. 

Hosted at the Hilton San Diego Bay Front the facilities offered an

amazing view of the bay where ships of every type make their way to port. Coast guard cutters, military battleships, private yachts, and sail boats all come in for docking, supplies, and maintenance. From the upper floors of the Hilton one can see a great distance and get a pretty nice view of maritime happenings and ocean front.

The Hilton hosts a number of restaurants which include Bay Breeze,  Fox Sports Grill, Odysea, Vela, Starbucks, Sweet Things, and more.  There is enough variety to satisfy just about any need. For conferences the hotel offers over 1,100 rooms, wi-fi, and plenty of conference room. Staff are well trained and willing to provide excellent service, directions, or help. You may view the hotel at http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/california/hilton-san-diego-bayfront-SANCCHH/about/index.html

WASC-http://www.wascsenior.org/