High Enrollment Bottleneck Courses Boise State University

Bottleneck Courses Required courses that are often prerequisites for other upper-division courses or for entrance into program majors Required courses that are often prerequisites for other upper-division courses or for entrance into program majors Most are large-enrollment, lower-division courses Most are large-enrollment, lower-division courses Many are general education requirements for all students Many are general education requirements for all students Some have unacceptable failure and incomplete rates Some have unacceptable failure and incomplete rates

Scope of Bottleneck Problem 34 courses in 16 departments identified as significant bottlenecks 34 courses in 16 departments identified as significant bottlenecks Account for 12,746 enrollments Account for 12,746 enrollments Majority over subscribed by 10th day each semester Majority over subscribed by 10th day each semester Cost to university to add sections = average $700,000 Cost to university to add sections = average $700,000

ImpactImpact Study of non-continuing students indicates that course availability was a significant factor in failure to persist (Why Fall 2003 Freshmen Left Boise State University And Whether They Plan to Return, Research Report , Office of Institutional Assessment). Study of non-continuing students indicates that course availability was a significant factor in failure to persist (Why Fall 2003 Freshmen Left Boise State University And Whether They Plan to Return, Research Report , Office of Institutional Assessment). One in four graduates state that they had to delay graduation because of class unavailability (Spring Graduates Rate Their Experiences at Boise State University, Spring 2005, Office of Institutional Assessment). One in four graduates state that they had to delay graduation because of class unavailability (Spring Graduates Rate Their Experiences at Boise State University, Spring 2005, Office of Institutional Assessment).

ImpactImpact Delay graduation - increase cost to student Delay graduation - increase cost to student Diminished support for the university from students and parents Diminished support for the university from students and parents Reduced consistency and quality of instruction in additional sections Reduced consistency and quality of instruction in additional sections Departments unable to add sections – Lack of classrooms – Lack of qualified faculty Reduces curricular offerings Risk to accreditation Inconsistent quality StudentsDepartments

StrategyStrategy Curriculum innovation through redesign to achieve: Curriculum innovation through redesign to achieve: – Improved access - more students get in and master course content – Reduced costs to both student and university – Increase in quality and consistency of instruction State grant to fund 3 pilot project teams State grant to fund 3 pilot project teams – English – Math – Accounting

StrategyStrategy Partner with NCAT for process and experience Partner with NCAT for process and experience English team - C2R participant English team - C2R participant Instructional design workshops/charette - just in time training and design solutions Instructional design workshops/charette - just in time training and design solutions 8 weeks of equivalent full time summer work 8 weeks of equivalent full time summer work Develop model process for other departments Develop model process for other departments Illustrate possibilities for significant redesign Illustrate possibilities for significant redesign