The University of Texas-Pan American Presented by: S.J. Sethi, Ph.D. & Sam Shi Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness Major Migration by College at UTPA February 6, 2008

Outline Introduction Data and Results Methodology - SPSS & Syntax Technical Reflections Use of Results Future Plans

Introduction Purpose: To get a better understanding of degree mobility of students and their graduation rates by college This report tracks the six-year graduation rates of the first-time, full-time & part-time 2000 cohort by the college of their intended major and by the college from which they graduated.

Data 2000 cohort was 2,083 students; 633 (30%) graduated in 6 years. 82% of the students declared a major; 18% were undecided. 6 colleges at UTPA: College of Arts & Humanities (8%) College of Business (16%) College of Education (9%) College of Health Sciences and Human Services (14%) College of Social Behavioral Sciences (12%) College of Science and Engineering (24%)

Table 1 Fall 2000 First-time Full-time & Part-time Freshman Cohort Intended College and Graduating College Total CohortGraduated in 6 years Intended College (major) From Intended College MIGRATED TO Other College MIGRATED FROM Other CollegeTotal Graduates Intended College # (a) % of Cohort # % of (a) # # # % of grads College of Arts & Humanities 1678%4728%106%6137%10865%17% College of Business Admin 32716%8927%319%5717%14645%23% College of Education 1909%4524%2815%6735%11259%18% College of Hlth Scs & Human Svs 28714%2910%5118%3311%6222%10% College of Social & Beh Scs 24812%2811%2912%4217%7028%11% College of Science & Engg 49024%10421%6413%316%13528%21% Undecided 37418% TOTAL2,083100%34216%21310%29114%63330%100% Source: CBM Files from 2000 to present, OIRE, UTPA, Edinburg, TX Results

Table 2 Fall 2000 First-time Full-time & Part-time Freshman Cohort 6 Year Graduates - Migration of Students among Colleges Actual Graduating College Intended College (major) Intended College of GraduatesCoAHCoBACoECoHSHSCoSBSCoSE College of Arts & Humanities (82%) College of Business Administration (74%) College of Education (62%) College of Health Scs & Human Svs (36%) College of Social & Behavioral Scs (49%) College of Science & Engineering (62%) Undecided TOTAL Source: CBM Files from 2000 to present, OIRE, UTPA, Edinburg, TX Results

The entire cohort Number of times major is changedFrequencyPercent 01,03149% % % 3884% 4191% 530% 61 Total2,083100% Source: 2000 Cohort Data File, OIRE, UTPA, Edinburg, TX Graduated in 6 years Number of times major is changedFrequencyPercent % % % 3447% 481% 510% Total633100% Did not graduate in 6 years Number of times major is changedFrequencyPercent % % % 3443% 4111% 520% 61 Total1,450100% Table 3 Number of times students change majors UTPA 2000 First-time Full-time & Part-time Cohort Results

Files Involved Fall 2000 Cohort (Full-time + Part-time) CBM001 certified files (Fall 2000 – Fall 2006 including Springs) CBM009 certified files (AY2002 – AY2006) Student files (Fall 2000 – Fall 2006 including Springs) – including variables or calculated variables that CBM001 doesn’t have Variables Involved ID – to merge between different files Demographic variables College, Department, Major, Classification, Full-time and Part-time status, Cumulative GPA (future study) in every enrollment semester and at the time of graduation Methodology - Files Used

Merge files Merge the cbm001 certified files with the student files for each semester by student ID. Merge the Fall 2000 Cohort file with the already merged cbm001 and student files to get every year’s enrollment status. Merge the Fall 2000 Cohort file with the cbm009 graduation files to get students’ graduation status. Methodology - SPSS

Calculate Major Change /* Use this script with EXTREME CAUTION. Since it changes the existing values of the current variables. Apply this syntax only to the files in this folder.*/ compute maj_change = 0. /*take care of cases that a student miss a semester and come back with the same major*/ if(tb_major_20011 > '0' & tb_major_20012 <= '0') tb_major_20012 = tb_major_ If(tb_major_20012 > ‘0’ &tb_major_20021 <= ‘0’) tb_major_20021 = tb_major_ if(tb_major_20021 > '0' & tb_major_20022 <= '0') tb_major_20022 = tb_major_ if(tb_major_20022 > '0' & tb_major_20031 <= '0') tb_major_20031 = tb_major_ if(tb_major_20031 > '0' & tb_major_20032 <= '0') tb_major_20032 = tb_major_ if(tb_major_20032 > '0' & tb_major_20041 <= '0') tb_major_20041 = tb_major_ if(tb_major_20041 > '0' & tb_major_20042 <= '0') tb_major_20042 = tb_major_ if(tb_major_20042 > '0' & tb_major_20051 <= '0') tb_major_20051 = tb_major_ if(tb_major_20051 > '0' & tb_major_20052 <= '0') tb_major_20052 = tb_major_ if(tb_major_20052 > '0' & tb_major_20061 <= '0') tb_major_20061 = tb_major_ if(tb_major_20061 > '0' & tb_major_20062 <= '0') tb_major_20062 = tb_major_ if(tb_major_20062 > '0' & tb_major_20071 <= '0') tb_major_20071 = tb_major_ if (tb_major_20012 > '0' & tb_major_20011 > '0' & tb_major_20012 ~= tb_major_20011) maj_change = maj_change + 1. if (tb_major_20021 > '0' & tb_major_20012 > '0' & tb_major_20021 ~= tb_major_20012) maj_change = maj_change + 1. if (tb_major_20022 > '0' & tb_major_20021 > '0' & tb_major_20022 ~= tb_major_20021) maj_change = maj_change + 1. if (tb_major_20031 > '0' & tb_major_20022 > '0' & tb_major_20031 ~= tb_major_20022) maj_change = maj_change + 1. if (tb_major_20032 > '0' & tb_major_20031 > '0' & tb_major_20032 ~= tb_major_20031) maj_change = maj_change + 1. if (tb_major_20041 > '0' & tb_major_20032 > '0' & tb_major_20041 ~= tb_major_20032) maj_change = maj_change + 1. if (tb_major_20042 > '0' & tb_major_20041 > '0' & tb_major_20042 ~= tb_major_20041) maj_change = maj_change + 1. if (tb_major_20051 > '0' & tb_major_20042 > '0' & tb_major_20051 ~= tb_major_20042) maj_change = maj_change + 1. if (tb_major_20052 > '0' & tb_major_20051 > '0' & tb_major_20052 ~= tb_major_20051) maj_change = maj_change + 1. if (tb_major_20061 > '0' & tb_major_20052 > '0' & tb_major_20061 ~= tb_major_20052) maj_change = maj_change + 1. if (tb_major_20062 > '0' & tb_major_20061 > '0' & tb_major_20062 ~= tb_major_20061) maj_change = maj_change + 1. if (tb_major_20071 > '0' & tb_major_20062 > '0' & tb_major_20071 ~= tb_major_20062) maj_change = maj_change + 1. execute. Methodology - Syntax

Syntax for Tables 1 and 2 USE ALL. COMPUTE filter_$=(tb_major ~= "UNDE"). VARIABLE LABEL filter_$ 'tb_major ~= "UNDE" (FILTER)'. VALUE LABELS filter_$ 0 'Not Selected' 1 'Selected'. FORMAT filter_$ (f1.0). FILTER BY filter_$. EXECUTE. CROSSTABS /TABLES=tb_coll BY tb_coll_graduation /FORMAT= AVALUE TABLES /CELLS= COUNT /COUNT ROUND CELL. Methodology - Syntax

FREQUENCIES VARIABLES=maj_change /ORDER= ANALYSIS. USE ALL. COMPUTE filter_$=(year_graduation > '0'). VARIABLE LABEL filter_$ "year_graduation > '0' (FILTER)". VALUE LABELS filter_$ 0 'Not Selected' 1 'Selected'. FORMAT filter_$ (f1.0). FILTER BY filter_$. EXECUTE. FREQUENCIES VARIABLES=maj_change /ORDER= ANALYSIS. USE ALL. COMPUTE filter_$=(year_graduation <= '0'). VARIABLE LABEL filter_$ "year_graduation <= '0' (FILTER)". VALUE LABELS filter_$ 0 'Not Selected' 1 'Selected'. FORMAT filter_$ (f1.0). FILTER BY filter_$. EXECUTE. FREQUENCIES VARIABLES=maj_change /ORDER= ANALYSIS. Syntax for Table 3 Methodology - Syntax

The importance of standardized variables Automate and speed up the merging process How to technically determine if a student’s major is changed or not especially when the student missed a semester? Technical Reflections

Understanding Student Behavior Academic Student Advising Evaluation of Academic Programs Assessment at time of Entry Use of Results

Add more variables How age and ethnicity affect major migration? How GPA is affected after major migration? The results as raw data for future study Major migration pattern changes across years Future Plans

Questions Contact Information: S.J Sethi: Sam Shi: Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness: