iPASS Grant Integrated Planning and Advising for Student Success in Higher Education

What is iPASS? iPASS is the use of technology to enhance and streamline the student experience of academic, career, and financial advising and planning services. Effective implementation of iPASS requires transformation of the institution’s approach to these services, including structural organizational changes, process and policy changes, and attitudinal changes of stakeholders. UH System and HonCC emerged as one of 24 institutions in the nation to receive $225,000 over three years.

Who funds it? Achieving the Dream EDUCAUSE Gates Foundation Helmsley Charitable Trust

iPASS Vision By being “Student Centered, Student Focused”, Honolulu Community College recognizes that student success and retention is the responsibility of every faculty, staff, and administrator. Students will be proactively empowered to successfully complete their academic journey through intentional connections with faculty, student services and academic support programs. These intentional connections will be supported through the robust use of integrated technology solutions.

iPASS Goals Articulate a set of best practices in using and integrating the three technology solutions of STAR, MySuccess (Starfish) and PAR in academic counseling in order to improve student retention & completion. Create a plan for adoption of best practices for the entire UH System – including technical and non-technical practices. Identify any needed integration of the three technology solutions [STAR, MySucess (Starfish) and PAR] and create a plan for how integration would be accomplished. Better understand how to cultivate, advise, and support STEM students using the three technology solutions (STAR, MySucess (Starfish) and PAR). Through using the integrated technology solutions, students will be able to: (a) access their academic plan online through STAR (online degree planner/audit), (b) register for the appropriate classes via STAR, (c) respond to early alert flags through MySucess (Starfish), (d) identify and use various support services, programs, and centers as reccomended to them, and (e) engage appropriately with faculty regarding their academic progress.

PAR PAR – Predictive Analytics Reporting http://www.parframework.org The UH System was a founding member of PAR and has helped to provide feedback to the company around the use and look of the tool. The information that UH System provides PAR comes from our student information system, Banner. When the UH System first partnered with PAR they had to go through the Data Governance process. Information that is shared is secure and it is not a violation of FERPA. The factors that PAR looks at to identify students who may be at-risk include attributes like: GPA, placement and successful completion in Developmental Education courses, credits attempted, and Pell eligibility. While PAR does provide course completion data, the iPASS grant is not focused on using it-. Course completion data is the same as in Banner.        The integration of the Laulima grade book into MySuccess was an initiative that started as a request from Leeward Community College a few years ago. The aim was to be able to provide a complete picture at an individual student level (not at a course roster level) to academic counselors and other support staff so they can better assist students. 

Student Success – Tying it All Together MySuccess (Starfish) – Case management, student support, communication. iPASS Grant – Integration of PAR and MySuccess, proactive support for at-risk students. PAR – predictive analytics at student and course level. STAR – Degree planning, registration. STAR Velocity – Optimal program sequencing. AdAstra – Course scheduling and facilities analytics. Laulima (Sakai) – Course management tool.

So Far & Next Steps So Far.. Next Steps… Emails sent to PAR students, set up success plans. Follow up phone calls with students. Encourage more faculty usage of MySuccess – not just answering survey questions. Next Steps… Changing the culture of advising. Sharing our journey with DREAM. Share lessons learned with UH System.