1. Flight Plan: A Proactive Approach to Fostering Sustainable Student Success at the University of Louisville
October 6, 2016

2. What is Flight Plan? Introduction to Flight Plan
Flight Plan is a campus-wide initiative to assist undergraduate students in staying on course to graduate in 4 to 6 years.

3. Why is Flight Plan Important?
Introduction to Flight Plan (Cont.)
Why is Flight Plan Important?
Assists the university in improving student persistence and retention.
Target for 6-Year Graduation Rate on University's 2020 Scorecard is 60.5% (currently 53.5%)

4. Why is Flight Plan Important?
Introduction to Flight Plan (Cont.)
Why is Flight Plan Important?
Supports state and community interests
Contributes to a more educated workforce
Attracts more businesses to Kentucky (> tax dollars)
Supports 55,000 Degrees Initiative

5. Why is Flight Plan Important?
Introduction to Flight Plan (Cont.)
Why is Flight Plan Important?
Helps students financially
Students’ tuition cost will not be as high if they graduate in a timely manner
Students can graduate with less debt if they graduate on time
Students can start earning a salary earlier if they graduate and enter the job market earlier

6. Background: How was Flight Plan developed?

7. Charge from provost How was Flight Plan developed?
Create an “out-in-four” program to proactively assist students to graduate in 4 years

8. Identified Stakeholders
How was Flight Plan developed? (Cont.)
Identified Stakeholders
Academic advisors
Students
Advising Center Directors
Institutional Research
Campus partners

9. Discussion and research
How was Flight Plan developed? (Cont.)
Discussion and research
Regular meetings times took place among the stakeholders
Institutional Effectiveness provided data
Institutions with Out in Four programs were studied
University of Arizona
Arizona State
University of Florida

10. Recommendations to Provost
How was Flight Plan developed? (Cont.)
Recommendations to Provost
Create 4 – year degree progression plans
Teach and inform students how to graduate in 4 years
Monitor degree completion of first time-full-time students
Review Advanced Placement and CLEP credit awarded

11. Recommendations to Provost
How was Flight Plan developed? (Cont.)
Recommendations to Provost
Change maximum hours per semester from 17 to 18
Ensure campus-wide collaboration and support
Provide incentives
Improve enrollment management
Change culture of “expected” graduation in 4 years

12. Who Oversees Flight Plan?
How was Flight Plan developed? (Cont.)
Who Oversees Flight Plan?
University-Wide Flight Plan Executive Committee (EC) appointed by the Provost
4 subcommittees bring recommendations to EC. If approved, recommendation forwarded to Provost

13. Marketing and Education Policy and Procedure Milestones/Tracking
How was Flight Plan developed? (Cont.)
4 Subcommittees
Marketing and Education
Policy and Procedure
Milestones/Tracking
Intervention/Data Collection/Assessment

14. How does Flight Plan work?

15. How does Flight Plan Work? Cont.)
Students:
investigate careers early
are assigned to an academic advisor in PS in their first semester and when they transition to faculty advisor
select a 4, 5, or 6 year Flight Plan during their second semester of freshmen year
are measured against milestones at the end of year 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (depending on FP selection)
not meeting milestones are required to meet with their academic advisor

16. What are milestones? How does Flight Plan Work? Cont.)
For most majors, milestones are based on the completion of a minimum number of hours each year
AND
a minimum grade point average (determined by academic major)
STEM majors – course-based milestones

17. Students Not Meeting Milestones …
How does Flight Plan Work? Cont.)
Students Not Meeting Milestones …
discuss with academic advisor what caused them not to meet milestones
develop a plan to get back on course OR
select a new Flight Plan

18. Academic Advisors… How does Flight Plan Work? Cont.)
Discuss with students what may have contributed to their inability to meet milestones.
Record reasons in data base
Work with students to develop a plan to get back on course or assist students in selecting a different Flight Plan.

19. Flight Plans and Milestones
How does Flight Plan work? (Cont.)
Flight Plans and Milestones
FPs including required Milestones can be viewed here: louisville.edu/flightplan
Students can change their FP anytime they wish by meeting with their academic advisor
Refer to sample in their folder

20. Technology

21. Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat
Technology Available for Flight Plan
Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat
Worked with academic units to develop four-year degree progression plans, which later became “Flight Plans”
Developed in Microsoft Word, published in PDF
Minimal interactivity or integration with other UofL technology

22. PeopleSoft Course Planner
Technology Available for Flight Plan (cont.)
PeopleSoft Course Planner
Students can browse course catalog and place courses in specific upcoming semesters, from which they can then register when eligible
Collaboration: Advisors can also view student’s planner in PeopleSoft
PeopleSoft Course Planner – Students can browse course catalog and place courses in specific upcoming semesters, from which they can then register when eligible
PeopleSoft

23. Technology Available for Flight Plan (cont.)
Course Planner
(Example)

24. PeopleSoft Advisement
Technology Available for Flight Plan (cont.)
PeopleSoft Advisement
Advisement Report (Degree Audit)
Degree progress based on academic catalog requirements
Structured to match that of catalog requirements
What-If Scenario
Simulate changing majors, adding minors, etc.
Shows degree progress in new major or minor
Collaboration: Students and Advisors can view these reports

25. CardSmart (formerly GradesFirst)
Technology Available for Flight Plan (cont.)
CardSmart (formerly GradesFirst)
Appointment scheduling and discussion notes
Appointment Campaigns to students who miss Flight Plan milestones
Entry of coded reasons as to why student missed milestones for the academic year

26. Organizational Challenges

27. Decentralized Structure
Organizational Challenges
Decentralized Structure
Advising centers report to units, not centrally
Requires buy-in from a large number of diverse organizations and groups on campus

28. Culture Change Organizational Challenges (cont.)
Reluctance to change practices necessary to follow Flight Plan model
Increasing enrollments, shrinking resources
Viewed as additional work, NOT as changing the way we do things

29. Assessment

30. How will we know if Flight Plan is successful?
Assessment
How will we know if Flight Plan is successful?
More students taking 15+ hours each semester
More students meeting milestones
Increased graduation rates (4, 5, 6 years)

31. Assessment (cont.)
Attempted Hours

32. Assessment (cont.)
Attempted Hours

33. [students meeting milestones]
Assessment (cont.)
% Met Milestones
(overall)
2012, 2013 & 2014 Milestone Checks
* - Excludes students who have stopped or dropped out (at least 2 consecutive semesters without enrollment, excluding summer) or were suspended ** - Excludes students in Exploratory division of A&S for comparison purposes
[students meeting milestones]

34. Assessment (cont.) First-Year Milestones Met 2011, 2012 & 2013 Cohorts
* Includes Exploratory students

35. Assessment (cont.) Second-Year Milestones Met 2011 & 2012 Cohorts
* Includes Exploratory students
** Includes stop/drop students

36. [Graduation rates] Assessment (cont.)
4-Year Graduation Rates, GRS Cohorts
First-Time, Full-Time Cohorts
Rates Source: UofL Institutional Research
2012 Projected Rate Source: UofL Flight Plan data
[Graduation rates]

37. Next Steps

38. Additional technology
Next Steps (Cont.)
Additional technology
Flight Planner
Automate milestone checking
Integrate Flight Plans with Course Planner and Advisement Report
Usage tracking

39. Additional Milestones
Next Steps (Cont.)
Additional Milestones
EAB: “Success Markers”
Course- and grade-based according to major

40. Frequency of Milestones checks
Next Steps (Cont.)
Frequency of Milestones checks
Determine if milestones should be checked each semester rather than once a year in order to intervene earlier

41. Advising Structure Next Steps (Cont.)
Decrease student-to-advisor ratios
Advising career ladder
Mandatory advising every semester
Professional advising only
Advising Scorecard to incentivize cooperation among units

42. Discussion
Questions?