On-Time College Completion
Change of Major, Adding a Minor or SpecializationStudents frequently need courses that are not available within a current semester. Whatever the issue, this lack of availability prevents on-time graduation. This, in turn, negatively affects the institution’s graduation rate.
Action Steps:
- Create a “backup curriculum” of Teaching Institution courses that includes courses that are pre-approved by the Home Institution
- Offer courses from Teaching Institutions only when equivalent courses are unavailable at the Home Institution
- List backup courses on a student portal defined by the Home Institution for students to explore
- Monitor student progress for graduation
Course Oversights and Enrollment MistakesOn occasion, students learn just prior to graduation that they have not met all requirements. This is usually due to inadvertent oversights by the student or by the institution. The unexpected cancellation of an anticipated graduation can be traumatic for the student.
Action Steps:
- Select Teaching Institution courses with schedules that will fit the immediate needs of students
Walking at GraduationStudents often are approved to “walk” at graduation without completing requirements. More frequently than we would wish, students do not later complete their requirements. Sometimes, their graduation memory persuades them that they have actually graduated. Recognizing that they don’t have a degree when a transcript is ordered can be devastating.
Action Steps:
- Create a plan for immediately fulfilling graduation requirements
- Meet the requirements through Teaching Institution courses
- Monitor completion of course requirements
Options for Non-Traditional StudentsInstitutions may have a limited number of courses available for nontraditional students. Steady progress and completion of degree requirements can be difficult.
Action Steps:
- Create pathways to completion through Teaching Institution courses
- Monitor completion of course requirements
Program Changes
Supporting Specialized Academic ProgramsSome academic programs require faculty members with specialized credentials. Retirements and position changes can leave holes in the curriculum. Replacing such faculty members or hiring suitable adjuncts can be problematic. Canceling these programs may be inadvisable.
Action Steps:
- Fill gaps in specialized academic programs through Teaching Institution courses
- Review Teaching Institution courses to quickly reveal opportunities
- Negotiate with Teaching Institutions to add needed courses
New Concentrations and Specialized MinorsProspective students often are looking for specific combinations of programs. These students may not consider your institution if you lack the programs they want. Adding and supporting additional programs can be cost prohibitive.
Action Steps:
- Select Teaching Institution courses to fill the gaps in concentrations and specialized minors
- Test student interest in additional concentrations and specialized minors with Teaching Institution courses before dedicating additional resources
- Review Teaching Institution courses to reveal opportunities
Testing New Program AreasAdding new programs can be expensive, and the consequences of launching the wrong programs can be severe. New programs often require “biting the bullet” on small courses until program enrollment increases.
Action Steps:
- Test student interest in possible new programs through Teaching Institution courses before dedicating additional resources
- Scaffold up new programs through Teaching Institution courses to avoid offering under-enrolled courses
- Review Teaching Institution courses to quickly reveal opportunities
Graduate Admissions
Satisfying PrerequisitesGraduate programs typically have specific prerequisites required for admission. These can impede admission to the graduate program, which, in turn, can impede the success of the graduate program itself.
Action Steps:
- Identify courses at Teaching Institutions that can satisfy the prerequisite
- Require enrollment in these prerequisites as part of the program
Retention Solutions
Retaining Students Who Earn Low Grades or WithdrawOn average, three good grades are required to offset a bad grade. Poor grades need to be offset or, preferably, replaced as soon as possible. Consortial relationships allow poor grades to be replaced on a student’s transcript when the student successfully completes a similar course offered by a Teaching Institution.
Action Steps:
- Identify your institution’s highest D/F/W courses
- Identify the most compatible Teaching Institutions offering those courses and assist the student to enroll
- Monitor student academic performance over the semester through robust mid-term grade reports and their equivalents
- Connect at-risk students with appropriate Teaching Institutions’ courses
- Select Teaching Institution courses that begin mid- or late-semester, or in between semesters (for example, winter term)
- Monitor the progress of students enrolled in courses through the CIC Consortium
Maintaining Academic Eligibility for AthletesAthletes frequently take smaller loads to accommodate their practice schedules. Poor performance in a single course can lead some to drop a course, which can reduce hours below full-time status and impact athletic eligibility. A student’s athletic scholarship also may be affected.
Action Steps:
- Engage coaches actively in monitoring student athletes’ academic performance
- Monitor mid-term grade reports and other equivalents
- Identify courses needed to support student athletes’ eligibility
- Locate those courses within Teaching Institutions’ course inventory
- Enroll at-risk students in appropriate online courses
Pre-Probation and Pre-Dismissal StrategiesStudents who are placed on probation or dismissed for poor academic performance typically do not succeed at completing a pathway back to the institution. Institutional retention and revenue also are negatively affected.
Action Steps:
- Proactively identify appropriate winter or summer term courses offered by Teaching Institutions that, if completed successfully, would allow students to move off probation or re-enter in the following term
- Actively encourage probationary and dismissed students to enroll in these courses
- Create follow-up methods with these students
Post-Dismissal Return PathwaysStudents dismissed by the institution rarely return.
Action Steps:
- Encourage dismissed students to enroll in selected courses offered by Teaching Institutions in the Consortium
- Define a path back to the Home Institution based on course performance