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Update on a University System Effort to Improve Teaching, Learning and Success in Gateway Courses

2016 SACSCoC Annual MeetingAtlanta, GA

Anna Dunlap Higgins-Harrell, Professor of English & QEP Coordinator, Gordon State College

Valerie Whittlesey, Associate Vice President for Curriculum & Professor of Psychology, Kennesaw State University

Felita T. Williams, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Partnerships & Accreditation, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

John N. Gardner, President, John N. Gardner Institute For Excellence in Undergraduate Education

Andrew K. Koch, Chief Operating Officer, John N. Gardner Institute For Excellence in Undergraduate Education

Welcome & Session OverviewDr. Felita T. Williams, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Partnerships & AccreditationBoard of Regents of the University System of Georgia

Session Overview

• The Issue

• A Solution• The Gardner Institute / G2C Perspective

• The University System of Georgia Perspective

• Gordon State College Perspective

• Kennesaw State University Perspective

• Questions and Discussion

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Description of the IssueDr. Andrew K. Koch, Chief Operating OfficerJohn N. Gardner Institute For Excellence in Undergraduate Education

Gateways Courses Defined

• Foundation-Level

• High-Risk

• High-Enrollment

• “Killer Courses”

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Admitting There is an Issue in Gateway Courses

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Column A. CourseColumn B. Number of Institutions Working on Course

Column C. Average DFWI Rate for All Students

Accounting 2 43.4%

Biology 8 30.8%

Chemistry 4 31.9%

English – College Level 6 30.3%

History 6 30.3%

Math – College Level 10 35.3%

Math - Developmental 3 49.4%

Psychology 5 30.0%

DFWI Rates by Course / Area

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Race Matters…And so do income & first-generation status

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DFWI Rates & Demographic Subpopulations

Column A.Course

Column B. Subpopulation

Column C.Average DFWI Rate for Subpopulation

Accounting African American 62.0%

Hispanic / Latino 69.5%

First Generation 48.2%

White 40.6%

Male 45.8%

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DFWI Rates & Demographic Subpopulations

Column A.Course

Column B. Subpopulation

Column C.Average DFWI Rate for Subpopulation

College Math

African American 49.1%

Hispanic / Latino 36.2%

Pell Recipients 39.4%

White 32.9%

Male 38.1%

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DFWI Rates & Demographic Subpopulations

Column A.Course

Column B. Subpopulation

Column C.Average DFWI Rate for Subpopulation

Chemistry African American 45.9%

Hispanic / Latino 45.0%

Pell Recipients 39.1%

White 30.2%

Male 34.7%

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Correlation with retention…gateway course success is a DIRECT predictor of retention

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Column A. Course Examples from Individual G2C Institutions

Column B. Average DFWI Rate

Column C. DFWI Rate for Non-Retained Eligible-to-Return Students*

Principles of Accounting I 54.0% 81.6%

Foundation for Physiology / Biology

18.9% 55.0%

General Chemistry 36.3% 73.9%

Writing and Rhetoric I 10.6% 25.8%

Survey of American History 26.8% 67.2%

College Algebra 59.7% 73.5%

Beginning Algebra 24.4% 65.1%

Introduction to Psychology 28.1% 46.1%

Mean of Average DFWI Rates for Examples

32.4% 61.0%

Lessons Learned

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Summary of the Issue

Gateway Courses Are:

• Taken by Nearly All Students

• Correlated with Higher Rates of:• Failure as measured by Grades

• Attrition

• Especially for Historically Underrepresented / Underserved Students

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Why This Matters

It’s About

• Our Resources

• Our Students

• Our Missions

• Social Justice

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Description of a SolutionThe Gardner Institute / G2C PerspectiveDr. John N. Gardner, PresidentJohn N. Gardner Institute For Excellence in Undergraduate Education

Gateways to Completion

A multi-faceted course transformation process that is focused on helping institutions, especially their faculty, gather evidence to create and then implement assessment-based plans for improving teaching, learning and success in historically challenging courses.

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The National Advisory Board

Lou Albert – Pima Community College

Linda Baer – Minnesota State U – Mankato

Trudy Bers – Oakton Community College

Hunter Boylan – National Center for Developmental Education

Linda Braddy – Mathematical Association of America

John Campbell – West Virginia University

Elizabeth Cox Brand – Oregon Department of Community Colleges & Workforce Development

Jeff Cornett – Ivy Tech Community College

Brent Drake – Purdue University

Johanna Dvorak – University of Wisconsin Milwaukee & NCLCA

Maribeth Ehasz – University of Central Florida

Scott Evenbeck – CUNY Stella and Charles Guttman Community College

Trinidad Gonzales – South Texas College / American Historical Association Learning Division

Casey Green – The Campus Computing Project

Bob Guell – Indiana State University

Jeanne Higbee – University of Minnesota

Amber Holloway – Higher Learning Commission

Christine Keller – APLU

Jillian Kinzie – Indiana Univ. Center for Postsecondary Research & NSSE Institute

Robert Kubat – Pennsylvania State University

Tricia Leggett, Zane State College

Julie Little – EDUCAUSE

Jean MacGregor – Washington Center

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The National Advisory Board

Jodi Koslow Martin – North Park University

George Mehaffy – AASCU

Jerry Odom – University of South Carolina

Karan Powell – American Public University System

Lynn Priddy – National American University

Elaine Seymour – University of Colorado at Boulder

Marion Stone – International Center for Supplemental Instruction

Emily Swafford – American Historical Association

Uri Treisman – University of Texas at Austin

Ross Peterson-Veatch – Goshen College

Kaye Walter – Bergen Community College

Cynthia Wilson – League for Innovation in the Community College

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G2C Founding InstitutionsGateways to Completion Founding Institutions

1.American Public University System2.Arkansas Tech University3.Ashford University4.Bergen Community College5.Florida International University6.Kennesaw State University7.Lansing Community College8.Lone Star College - North Harris9.Metropolitan State University of Denver10.Nevada State College11.North Dakota State University12. University of Houston - Downtown13.University of Rhode Island

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Cohort II Institutions

• The College of Micronesia – FSM• Montana State University – Billings• New Jersey Institute of Technology• Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology• Qatar University• The University of Southern Mississippi• Western Michigan University

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Cohort II InstitutionsUniversity System of Georgia

• East Georgia State College • Georgia Highlands State College• Georgia Southern University• Georgia Southwestern State University• Gordon State College• Middle Georgia State University• Kennesaw State University• South Georgia State College• University of West Georgia• Valdosta State University

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Cohort III Institutions to Date8 Funded by Kresge Foundation

• Bemidji State University • Brevard College• Capital University• Eastern Michigan University• Kalamazoo Valley C.C.• Lansing Community College

• Oakland University• Rutgers University – Newark• University of Michigan – Dearborn• Washtenaw Community College• Wayne State University• Western Michigan University

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G2C: The Comprehensive Model

Comprehensive

• Course / Cross-Course Redesign Process (Self Study)

• Analytics Process Collaborative

• Teaching & Learning Academy

• Community of Practice

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Comprehensive Model 3 Year Timeline

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Roles

Liaisons(at least 2)

Course-Specific Committees

Steering Committee

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Description of a SolutionThe University System of Georgia PerspectiveDr. Felita T. Williams, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Partnerships & AccreditationBoard of Regents of the University System of Georgia

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The University System of Georgia

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Synergy of Work

LEAPSACSCO

C

CCG

Affordable Learning Georgia

eCore/eMajor

Year 1: Analyze and Plan

• Create initial steering committee

• Complete Gateway Course Analytics Inventory

• Identify Course(s) based on GCAI evidence

• Administer SALG

• Create Initial Action Plan & Implementation Team

• Begin & Attend Analytics Progress Collaborative

• Begin & Attend Teaching & Learning Academy

• Attend G2C Community of Practice Meeting

• Attend (Optional) Gateway Course Experience Conference

Description of a SolutionThe Gordon State College PerspectiveDr. Anna Dunlap Higgins-Harrell, Professor of English & QEP CoordinatorGordon State College

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Gordon State College Overview

• GSC History• GSC Mission• GSC Today

Why G2C at Gordon State College?

Progress Update on G2C at GSC

• Course-Specific Committees• MATH 1111• ENGL 1101• GFYE

• SACSCOC On-Site Visit

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Description of a SolutionThe Kennesaw State University PerspectiveDr. Valerie Whittlesey, Associate Vice President for Curriculum & Professor of Psychology Kennesaw State University

KSU Overview

• Comprehensive university within the University System of Georgia

• Northwest of Atlanta GA

• Carnegie Classification R3-Doctoral University-Moderate Research Activity

• 13 academic colleges

• Over 150 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees

Fall, 2016

Total Students 35,011

UndergraduatesFull-TimePart-TimeTraditionalNon-TraditionalWhite, Non-HispanicNon-WhiteInternational

92%76%24%83%17%56%38%

6%

New Undergraduate EnrolleesBeginning FreshmenTransfersReadmits

8,69760%32%8%

Why G2C for KSU

• KSU’s Strategic Plan

– Improve on-campus, off-campus, and online learning environments

– Improve RRPG in accord with the USG’s Complete College GA strategic goal and initiatives

• KSU data show need to increase:

– Gateway course success

– Retention, progression, and graduation rates

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Why G2C for KSU1‐Year RetentionRates‐ Fall 2015 Cohort

FT, FT Freshman

79.8%

FT, PT Freshman

65.4%

Graduation Rates‐Fall 2009 cohort (FT‐FT Freshmen)

Four‐Yr. 14.7%

Six‐Yr. 40.3%

Course Enrollment(2015‐16)

% of DFWI Grades

ACCT 2100 (Principles of Financial Acct.)

2658 30.7%

HIST 2112 (America Since 1890)

4602 20.4%

MATH 1111 (College Algebra)

3555 32.1%

MATH 1190 (Calculus I)

2702 36.4%

SCI 1101 (Science, Society & Environment I)

3685 22.0%

Progress to Date: KSU’s G2C Structure

G2C Co‐Chairs

G2C Steering Committee 

Co‐Chairs, Course Chairs, CETL staff, & IR Staff

G2C Task Force 

Steering Committee & Course Committees

• Spring and Summer, 2016– Formed G2C structure– Co-Chairs and Course Chairs

• Attended G2C conference and workshops in Atlanta• Participated in G2C webinars

– First task force meeting and steering committee meeting– Collected Student Learning Gains survey data– Completed Student Success Inventory data

Progress to Date: KSU’s G2C Structure

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• Fall, 2016– G2C annual colloquium- Dr. Kenn Barron (James Madison Univ)-

Topic: Motivating and Engaging Students in Large Classes– Began G2C self-study based on G2C principles and KPIs– Course Redesign Institute launch

• Facilitated by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

Progress to Date: KSU’s G2C Structure

Progress to Date:G2C Course Redesign InstituteFaculty Learning Community 

Meetings‐ Spring

•Collect benchmark course data on learning outcomes and DFWI rates

•Administer Student Learning Gains survey

•Work with CETL consultant to collect data on teaching via classroom observations and student focus groups

Course Redesign Lab‐ June

•Workshops (Backward Design for Learning Centered Teaching, Assessment Design, Learning Activities Design)

•Submit a written course redesign plan (course syllabus, schedule, early alert intervention, modules, class activities, assessments, rubrics)

•Submit written assessment data plan to measure learning outcomes and DFWI rates for redesigned course

Implementation, Self‐Study and Scholarship‐ Fall and Beyond

•Attend G2C annual faculty colloquium/showcase 

•Teach redesigned course

•Participate in early alert intervention (students complete graded assignments by week four and instructor teams with advisor to intervene with students who are flagged)

•Collect course assessment data and collaborate with CETL for class observations and small group instructional diagnoses

•Continue to collect assessment data each time course is taught after fall

•Present course redesign results and assessment data at next year’s G2C annual faculty colloquium/showcase

Questions and DiscussionDr. Felita T. Williams, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Partnerships & AccreditationBoard of Regents of the University System of Georgia

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Contact Information

• Anna Dunlap Higgins-Harrell, Gordon State College a_higgins@gordonstate.edu

• Valerie Whittlesey, Kennesaw State Universityvwhittle@kennesaw.edu

• Felita T. Williams, University System of Georgia Felita.Williams@usg.edu

• John N. Gardner, John N. Gardner Institutegardner@jngi.org

• Andrew K. Koch, John N. Gardner Institutekoch@jngi.org