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ERIC Number: EJ960675
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 7
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0009-1383
EISSN: N/A
Fostering Student Success in Hard Times
Kuh, George D.; Kinzie, Jillian; Schuh, John H.; Whitt, Elizabeth J.
Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, v43 n4 p13-19 2011
A few years ago, in "Student Success in College (SSiC)," the authors profiled twenty colleges and universities that were unusually effective in fostering student engagement and success, defined as better-than-predicted scores on the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and better-than-predicted graduation rates. These schools are exemplars of what is right with higher education, and much can be learned from them. The authors contacted these schools recently to determine whether they have been able to maintain their strong performance. By and large, they have. Through 2009, their graduation rates were comparable to those in 2002, which was when the authors identified this group of institutions as worthy of in-depth study. In fact, ten schools increased their graduation rates by at least four percent, and two (George Mason University and The Evergreen State College) increased theirs by at least ten percent. NSSE scores also were comparable to those in 2002. This article illustrates some of what these institutions did to stay true to their commitments to foster student success. Using examples from a half dozen of the schools with different missions and structural features, the authors discuss some of the obstacles they overcame and the opportunities they created or took advantage of that allowed them to do this. The authors found that four key conditions for sustaining good work in hard times characterize all these institutions: (1) An ethic of positive restlessness permeates the campus; (2) Data about students and their success inform deliberations and decisions about the curriculum and other institutional priorities; (3) Academic and student affairs staff collaborate to foster student success; and (4) Campus leaders work assiduously to increase the numbers of faculty and staff who understand the importance of and become committed to student success. (Contains 11 resources.)
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California; Indiana; Kansas; Maine; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; North Carolina; Ohio; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Virginia; Washington; Wisconsin
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: National Survey of Student Engagement
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A