Time to Graduation ad hoc CommitteeUniversity of Wisconsin – Eau ClaireStructural Equation Modeling

one cohort (~2003-2009)1180 non-transfer students253 transfer studentsfirst degree-seekers only

Time to Graduation – part 1

8 semesters = 120 credits / 15 credits sem-1

9.1 semesters = 138 credits / (14.3 credits sem-1 + extra coursework)

1. Students graduate with too many credits 2. AND don’t register for enough credits per semester

structural meta-model

Demographic Factorsgender, from MN, first generation, low income, age,

Academic AbilityACT, HS Rank, Incoming Credits

Progress Indicatorscredits attempted, withdrawals, repeats, probation, suspension, GPA

Focus Indicatorssemesters undecided, changes in major, semesters to final major

RequirementsCredits in majorDouble major

High Impact PracticesStudy Abroad, Internship (for credit), Research

time to graduationtotal credits

about structural modeling and path analysis

causal factor A

causal factor C

time to graduation

causal factor B

Causation & Ambiguity

http://www.ahwla.org.uk/site/tutorials/BVA/BVA05-Mouse/BVA05-Images/10.jpg http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/figures/1471-2172-8-27-3-l.jpg

lab experiment clearly establishes causation but not relative importance

sem estimates relative importance but causation is inferred

time to graduation

r2 = 0.31

ProgressIndicators

AcademicPerformance

High-ImpactPractices

female

reciprocity

first generation

returned

-.48-.06

-.09-.05

-.10

.05

.08.35

.06

-.07

withdrawals

repeats

attempted/s

ACT *HS Rank *

Incoming credits * GPAgrad S

tudy

Abr

oad

Inte

rnsh

ip

Bot

h

model 4 - standardized regression coefficientsnote: academic performance, high-impact practices, and progress indicators are modeled as composite variables

Model 15 – standardized regression coefficients

c2 = 95.3, d.f.= 107, p=0.784GFI = 0.992RMSEA < .001, p > 0.999

Req.creditsmajor

2 majors

time to graduatio

nr2 = 0.78

sem.undeclared

attemptedsemest

Stud

y Ab

road

Inte

rnsh

ip

SA +

Int

ACT

HS rank

Incoming credits

1st Gen.

MN

Female

Rese

arch

# Ds of major

Total creditsearnedr2 = 0.30

repeats

withdrawals

GPAUWEC

grouping variable direct effects indirect effects total effectsd.1 Female -.196 -.178 -.374

d.2 First Generation - .207 .051

d.3 From Minnesota - -.290 -.118

aa.1 ACT -.020 -.011 -.031

aa.2 Incoming Credits -.045 .037 -.008

aa.3 HS Rank - -.010 -.010

hip.1 Research - .323 .323

hip.2 Study Abroad -.142 .284 .143

hip.3 Internship -.109 -.165 -.274

hip.interaction S.A. + Internship .264 - .264

pi.1 GPA -.215 -.130 -.345

pi.2 # Repeats .125 - .125

pi.3 Withdrawals .169 .066 .235

pi.4 Cr. Attempted s-1 -.513 .160 -.353

focus.1 Sem. undeclared .030 .056 .086

focus.2 Changes in major - .146 .146

credits.1 Double major - .684 .684

credits.2 Required credits in major - .017 .017

credits.3 Total earned credits .056 - .056

Unstandardized Effects – model 15

grouping variable unstandardized standardizedd.1 Female -.374 -.161 ***

d.2 First Generation .051 .051 *

d.3 From Minnesota -.118 -.118 **

aa.1 ACT -.031 -.085 *

aa.2 Incoming Credits -.008 -.056 *

aa.3 HS Rank -.010 -.133 **

hip.1 Research .323 .081 *

hip.2 Study Abroad .143 .053 *

hip.3 Internship -.274 -.103 **

hip.interaction S.A. + Internship .264 .053 *

pi.1 GPA -.345 -.123 **

pi.2 # Repeats .125 .134 **

pi.3 Withdrawals .235 .251 ****

pi.4 Cr. Attempted s-1 -.353 -.351 *******

focus.1 Sem. undeclared .086 .112 **

focus.2 Changes in major .146 .112 **

credits.1 Double major .684 .162 ***

credits.2 Required credits in major .017 .186 ***

credits.3 Total earned credits .056 .756 ***************

Unstandardized and Standardized Total Effects – model 15

Req.creditsmajor

2 majors

sem.undeclared

attemptedsemst.

Stud

y Ab

road

Inte

rnsh

ip

ACT

HS rank

Incoming credits

1st Gen.

MN

Female

Rese

arch

# Ds of major

Total creditsearnedr2 = 0.30

repeats

withdrawals

GPAUWEC

Increase understanding of Total Credits Earned

http://www.nfib.com/business-resources/business-resources-item/cmsid/48790/

“no job prospect?stay in college”

Increase total credits attempted per semester

an advising priority

increase “for credit” research and internships

http://www.albion.edu/intledu/europe.asp

Increase winterim and summer offerings

increase faculty interest(? trade semester course for summer – winterim course)(? increase flexibility, e.g., allow intensive summer courses)(? increase flexibility, e.g., allow >3 credits during interim terms)

Withdrawals:

subcommittee on retention

id courses with low success rates

discuss causes with department / faculty

provide support to increase success

Close the Gender gap