Cost, Value, and Accountability in Higher Education Randy Stiles Analytic Support and Institutional Research Grinnell College April 8, 2016

“Undergraduate retention and completion rates are the subject of national interest and questions of cost, value, and quality remain the focus of public debate.” Student Success at the Liberal Arts College National Symposium on Student Retention, Nov 2015

Overview  Several Ranking Systems  Scorecard and CHE Completion Rates  HLC Accreditation  Education Pays

COST, VALUE AND ACCOUNTABILITY Institutional Cost Completion Rate Grinnell

Ranking Systems

College Scorecard 6

CHE College Completion 7

Accreditation

HLC Criterion 4c Criterion Four. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and ImprovementEvaluation The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement 4.C. The institution demonstrates a commitment to educational improvement through ongoing attention to retention, persistence, and completion rates in its degree and certificate programs.

HLC Criterion 4c, cont’d 1.Define goals 2. Collect and analyze information 3. Use the information to make improvements 4. Uses processes and methodologies that reflect good practice

Conceptualizing and Categorizing Data Quantitative Qualitative CognitiveSocial-Psychological Time -Surveys -Focus groups -Retention -Completion -Credits -GPA -Test scores -Grades -Grit – 12 Item -Success Navigator -CIRP Constructs Initial conditions Early Indicators Time-series data Exit Interviews DATA/INFORMATION TYPE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS TIMING of the DATA

HLC’s Persistence and Completion Academy 12 YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 ACADEMY STRUCTURE

Financial Accountability 13 Rating Agencies Board of Trustees (audit) Donors and other (990) public parties

EARNINGS POTENTIAL

Source: “Education Pays, 2013,” College Board

Median Annual Earnings by Age-Group and Undergraduate Major ( ) Source: How Liberal Arts and Sciences Majors Fare in Employment. 2013

Questions/Discussion HLC ACCREDITATION (“Pathways”) PERSISTENCE AND COMPLETION ACADEMY ASSESSMENT ACADEMY FEDERAL COMPLIANCE SPECIALISTS