committee on undergraduate student success april 26, 2010 focusing on uk’s war on student...

Committee onUndergraduate Student Success

April 26, 2010

Focusing on UK’s War on Student Attrition

1997 Postsecondary Education Improvement Act:“A major comprehensive research institution ranked nationally in the Top 20 public universities at the University of Kentucky.”

UK’s Top 20 Business Plan and Recalibration:Key components for improving UK Undergraduate Education• ACT/SAT Score – increase average (converted) SAT score

from 1128 to at least 1193• Student to Faculty Ratio – increase teaching faculty by 625• Programs and Services – gen ed reform, targeted support• Graduation Rate – increase by 12% (retention rate of 90%)

Why Focus on Student Attrition?The Picture in 2007

Why Focus on Student Attrition?The Competition

Retention Rate:UK – Original Business Plan: 77.8 percent20th Institution: 92.0 percent

Graduation Rate:UK – Original Business Plan: 59.6 percent20th Institution: 77.5 percent

Guiding Principles for War on Attrition

Guiding Principles

A “Systems Approach” for Recruitment RETENTION GRADUATION

Results So Far

Budget Cuts MatterACT/SAT score:• Top 20 universities (average) 1248• 20th university 1186• University of Kentucky 1096• Kentucky statewide average 990

Student to Faculty Ratio:• UK 17 to 1• 20th university 15 to 1

• Faculty UK needs to get to 20th: 197• Faculty positions cut in 2008: 71

Retention Rates 2007

UK

Source: The Education Trust. College Results Online http://www.collegeresults.org

School Grad RateMedian

SAT%

URMUG

EnrollUC-Riverside 66 1075 32.4 14,452

U of AL 65 1105 13.5 18,346

U of KY 61 1125 6.6 18,081

A Comparison - 2007

Retention strategies

Alabama course redesign initiative in introductory mathematics Lowered DEW rate in college algebra from >50% to

~25% from 1998 to 2005, erasing differences between Afr-Am and White success

UC-Riverside learning communities in each college Retention rates in each LC measured centrally