USING DATA TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT AT-RISK STUDENTS IDENTIFY + CONNECT + RETAIN + GRADUATE Mitch Isaacs and Gloria Quiroz Pavlik

STUDENT AFFAIRS Ball State’s Division of Student Affairs has made a broad-based commitment to student persistence and completion by creating opportunities for students to connect with their peers, engage with campus activities, and be challenged in a supportive academic environment. Current programs and services support Ball State University’s Centennial Commitment Goals by 2018 : Promote Student Success measured by increased 4 and 6 year graduation rates to 50% and 65%, respectively, and maintain first to second year retention above 80% Provide Extraordinary Student Life Experiences by offering life-impacting programming

IDENTIFY The focus of the Retention and Graduation Office is student success. The primary function of the office is to identify students at risk of not returning to Ball State or not on track to graduate in four years and connect them with appropriate resources. Students are identified as at-risk based on behaviors and/or indicators such as: Students who attend late or no Orientation. Students who are flagged as “at-risk” through the MAP-Works survey. Students who receive mid-term deficiency grades. Students who have institutional holds. Students who have not registered for the next semester. Students who are on academic probation. Students who have a warning status for Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students who are not on track to complete 30 hours for the academic year. Students who indicate during Freshmen Orientation that they have a “low commitment” to completing their degree at Ball State.

CONNECT Peer Support Commuter Ambassador program was implemented in In this program, upper-level student ambassadors help first-year commuter students make connections on campus, and targeted programming is offered to address commuter-specific needs. The Transfer Ambassador program launched in fall of The program links first semester transfer students with upper-class students who share their knowledge and offer important advice. Sophomore Peer Coaches were hired in the fall of 2014 as part of the Sophomore Engagement Initiative. Peer Coaches connect students with campus resources and extra-curricular events. Programming focuses on career connections through on-site employer visits and providing opportunities for leadership and personal development. Success Coaching from Dedicated Staff We reach out to potential at-risk students via and phone to schedule a face-to-face meeting. This personal attention allows us to explain our role and learn more about each student. We work with students to create an action plan and timeline to achieve their goals. The action plans we create support the needs the individual student and integrate existing on-campus or community resources and supports. Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program assists low-income students from Indiana, by providing a financial aid award that covers tuition. In fall 2012, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education funded a position staffed by an AmeriCorps member to work with first year 21st Century Scholars at Ball State. This 21 st Century Scholar Support Specialist currently reports to the Student Affairs Retention and Graduation office.

RETAIN First Year Freshmen First to Second Year Retention Matrics Cohort Year Cohort Total Returned Year % % % % First to Second Year Retention Matric Commuters Cohort Year Cohort Total Returned Year % % % First to Second Year Retention Matric 21 st Century Scholars Cohort Year Cohort Total Returned Year % % % % Freshman Commuters 21 st Century Scholars

RETAIN Transfers Second to Third Year Retention - Matrics Cohort YearCohort TotalReturned Year % % First to Second Year Retention Transfers Cohort Year Cohort Total Returned Year % % % % Sophomores

GRADUATE  Current first to second year retention – 81.7%  Current 4 year graduation rate – 44.94%Transfers – 46.14%  Current 5 year graduation rate – 58.12%Transfers – 54.68%  Current 6 year graduation rate – 60.44% Promote Student Success measured by increased 4 and 6 year graduation rates to 50% and 65%, respectively, and maintain first to second year retention above 80%

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