Supporting Student Success DUS Advising Noon Seminar February
Supporting Student Success DUS Advising Noon Seminar February 27, 2020 • Christine B. Masters, Ph. D. cbm 100@psu. edu • David R. Smith, Ph. D. drs 46@psu. edu
Panel Members Christine B. Masters, Ph. D. Assistant Dean for Academic Support and Global Programs College of Engineering David R. Smith, Ph. D. Associate Dean for Academic Advising and Executive Director Division of Undergraduate Studies
Student Success at Penn State Comments made by Provost Nicholas Jones at the Digital Learning Advisory Group, (March 14, 2019) • As Penn State’s chief academic officer, I’m keenly focused on student success and barriers to it. • But the uncomfortable truth is that helping our nearly 100, 000 students to thrive is a challenging endeavor. • Three vital components to proactive advising are the technology, the data, and the human relationship. • We won't drive student success only with the tech tools and the data. • We must use and leverage them to build and sustain the “human touch. ” • A student-centered approach (focused on the learner, not the mode of delivery) is critical.
Real Barriers to Equitable Student Success • As undergraduate demographics shift, we need to improve outcomes Graduation rates Total Hispanic/ Latino Black/African American Asian International White University Park 85. 0% 77. 9% 72. 2% 81. 1% 80. 6% 87. 2% Commonwealth Campuses 57. 1% 47. 0% 41. 9% 59. 3% 75. 2% 59. 9% Total 71. 4% 60. 4% 49. 2% 70. 0% 78. 9% 74. 4% • https: //budget. psu. edu/factbook/Student. Dynamic/Student. Table. Of. Contents. aspx#Graduation. Rates&FBPlus. Indc=N
National Collaborations to Better Understand Barriers
DFW Rates: All Courses
DFW Rates: All Courses
DFW Rates: Calc 1
New Policies aimed at promoting Student Success • Updated Policy on Academic Advising • New Policy on Grade Forgiveness (H-2) • Updated Policy on Academic Warning and Suspension (I-1) The Academic Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual is key resource: undergrad. psu. edu/aappm/
University Senate Policy on Academic Advising (32 -00) Academic advising is a critical part of our educational and teaching mission, contributing to retention, student success, and building a citizenry that understands and values higher education. Our new policy indicates advising should be • An intentional educational endeavor • Conducted by people who are knowledgeable and available • With a proactive focus on engaging students
Advising matters to the institution Good advising plays a role in student sense of belonging, progress toward degree, and engagement with their education Good advising has a greater positive effect on students who are traditionally underserved by educational institutions
University Senate Policy 47 -80: Repeating Courses - A student is limited to repeat a course only when a grade of less than C was obtained, for a maximum of two (2) attempts. - The grades earned during all attempts in a course appear on the transcript. - For up to 12 repeated credits, the most recent grade is used in the computation of the cumulative gradepoint average. (Grade Forgiveness)
• • • Grade Forgiveness (H-2) Max of 12 credits Limited to D or F grades Only granted after earning the higher grade Requires consultation with financial aid office Requires consultation with an academic advisor Credits remain under attempted Original grades remain on the transcript Forgiven credits omitted from GPA Units Forgiven grades omitted from GPA calculations
Grade Forgiveness (H-2) • Cannot be reversed • Not eligible after Bachelor degree conferral • Cannot be applied to courses with an academic integrity violation • Does not automatically alter prior academic decisions • Entrance to Major • Scholarship Programs • Does not change previous Academic Standing
Grade Forgiveness transcript illustration - original
Grade Forgiveness transcript illustration - original
Grade Forgiveness transcript illustration - forgiveness
Grade Forgiveness transcript illustration - forgiveness
ACUE clarifications • Courses with different suffixes are not equivalent o ENGL 202 C cannot automatically forgive previous ENGL 202 D grade • One successful course completion can only forgive one previous attempt o o Student earns an F in ECON 102 Repeats the ECON 102 and again earns an F Again repeats the ECON 102 and earns a C Only one of the F grades can be forgiven • Exceptions must be made at the university-level, not by the college or campus o Exceptions must be consistent across the university system because grade forgiveness applies to the entire transcript, not one degree o Recommending a disciplinary community review o Create a repository of approved exceptions for situations that are not particular to an individual student’s situation o Examples - F in MATH 231, C in MATH 230 (content from 231 is covered in 230) - D in CMPSC 121 at a campus, B in CMPSC 131 at UP (similar courses but CMPSC 121 is not offered at UP
University Senate Policy changes on Academic Warning (54 -20), Suspension (54 -40), and Dismissal (54 -50) • Students on warning are required to meet with an advisor to “develop a meaningful plan for academic recovery. ” • Students can now be suspended after their second semester – “suspension will be deferred … if they completed seven or fewer credits in at least one of the semesters. ” • Student are only permitted one suspension before being dismissed • Student with 15 or fewer recovery points can petition for a reduction in or a stay of suspension. • Must have documented engagement with advisor and recovery plan • Stay of suspension reviews will have rapid turn around due to schedule cancellation • Recovery point calculator tool available • Students with 18 or fewer recovery points can petition the dismissal • If approved, their status will change to Suspension • Does not need rapid turn around
Opportunities
Proactive outreach INSTRUCTOR NOTICES SOMETHING INSTRUCTOR LETS ADVISER KNOW VIA STARFISH ADVISER REACHES OUT TO STUDENT IS CONNECTED TO RESOURCES STUDENT IS MORE SUCCESSFUL
Discussion
- Slides: 26