Background: In spring of 2013 the University of Missouri System awarded $1.96 million of the monies released by the state from withholding for a four-campus, cooperative Comprehensive Retention Initiative. A committee with representatives of all four campuses developed a plan to move all campuses towards best practices in retention. Key projects were identified as efforts that would complement current efforts and improve retention. In addition, part of the funding was used for localized, campus grants to fund niche programs that would also assist with enhancing retention.
Projects and status:
- Class Schedule Builder:
- Software that enables students to list courses they need to take, block time needed for work, practice, etc. The system then generates possible enrollment schedules for the student for a given semester or term.
- Schedule Builder software is implemented on all four campuses and initial review of data outcomes is underway.
- Significantly shortens the time spent building the enrollment schedule each term.
- Demand data for courses will assist with planning offerings.
- Retention-Focused Tracking & Appt. Scheduling Software:
- Software designed to promote engagement and remove obstacles between students and their advisors, tutors. It provides alerts when students are in need of assistance, sends kudos for accomplishments and assists with appointment scheduling and resource referrals.
- At least some features of the Starfish software has been implemented on all the campuses while some have fully implemented the software.
- Software allows students to easily find resources, set appointments with advisors and faculty, as well as student service offices.
- Software is being rolled out to use in student service units such as financial aid, cashiers and registrar, for setting appointments, follow up, etc.
- Data analytics indicate widespread adoption, positive feedback from students, faculty and advisors.
- Additional analysis is underway.
- Updated Degree Audit Software:
- Degree audit software is interactive software that tracks student academic progress in meeting degree requirements, tracks approved substitutions and assists students with planning for future term enrollments.
- U.Achieve software by College Source has been selected.
- Contract is being executed.
- Pilot was completed at UMKC, verifying that the migration to new software would allow for transitioning of previous degree audits.
- Charter for implementation is being drafted.
- Academic Mapping Planner:
- Academic mapping planner software creates a semester-by-semester roadmap for student course enrollment based upon their approved degree audit. It informs students of appropriate course sequencing to keep them on track. The software provides alerts so that students and advisors know when a student is on or off track.
- U.Direct by College Source has been selected.
- Contract is being executed.
- U.Direct implementation is dependent upon U.Achieve implementation schedule.
- Data Analytics:
- Use of large-scale data analysis is one of the newest tools being used to enhance student success. Data helps identify which students are likely to be successful in what majors, identify bottlenecks in course offerings, provide predictive modeling to better anticipate demand, etc.
- Ideally this information is available in graphical form as well as data tables, so that it can be presented in dashboards that are easily monitored and tailored to the end user.
- This final piece of software or collection of software outcomes has not been developed.
- Grant-funded projects:
- Competitive grants were awarded for projects that were designed to support furthering strategic initiatives
- Reviewed and selected by a subcommittee of peers representing each campus.
- Total awarded: $334,680.00
- UMKC Summer Bridge Program
- UMKC Major & Career Exploration Coordinator
- Missouri S&T Institutional Work Study
- UMSL Study Hall
- UMSL Financial Literacy
- UMSL Transfer Orientation
-January 15, 2015
Reviewed 2019-08-05