Efficiency for Whom? Varying Impact of Performance-Based Funding on Community Colleges in Louisiana

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaodan Hu
Keyword(s):  
Community Colleges ◽  
Graduation Rates ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Academic Outcomes ◽  
Underrepresented Students ◽  
Average Treatment Effect ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Performance Based Funding ◽  
The Impact

Objective: This study examines whether Louisiana’s performance-based funding (PBF) implementation in 2011 impacts various academic outcomes at community colleges, and whether the impact varies for institutions with higher proportions of underrepresented students. Method: Using institutional-level panel data between 2006 and 2016, I employ difference-in-differences to estimate the average treatment effect of the Granting Resources and Autonomies for Diplomas (GRAD) Act on credential production, retention, and graduation rates of Louisiana’s community colleges. I also examine how this effect differs between minority-serving-institutions (MSI) and non-MSIs, as well as between low-income-student-serving institutions (LSI) and non-LSI by calculating difference-in-difference-in-differences (DDD) estimates. Results: The findings indicate that PBF implementation is positively related to community colleges’ certificate production and graduation rates in Louisiana, but it has no impact on associate degree production or retention rates. Due to PBF implementation, LSIs grant fewer associate degrees than comparable non-LSI institutions. No disparate impact is found between MSIs and comparable non-MSIs. Contributions: Given the prevalence of PBF in the nation, this study examines the overall impact of PBF implementation on academic outcomes of community colleges in Louisiana, and it further disaggregates the community colleges by institutional characteristics, providing evidence for researchers and policymakers to support broad access and student success at MSIs and LSIs under PBF.

scholarly journals Supporting Community College Students from Start to Degree Completion: Long-Term Evidence from a Randomized Trial of CUNY’s ASAP

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Weiss ◽  
Alyssa Ratledge ◽  
Colleen Sommo ◽  
Himani Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Community College ◽  
Community Colleges ◽  
Graduation Rates ◽  
Degree Completion ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Randomized Experiments ◽  
Low Income Students ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
The City

Nationwide, graduation rates at community colleges are discouragingly low. This randomized experiment provides evidence that graduation rates can be increased dramatically. The City University of New York’s (CUNY) Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) is a comprehensive, integrated, 3-year program that has an estimated 18 percentage point effect on 3-year graduation rates, increases 6-year graduation rates by an estimated 10 percentage points, and helps students graduate more quickly. Graduation effect estimates of this magnitude are exceptional in randomized experiments conducted in higher education, offering hope of what is possible when serving low-income students. (JEL H75, I23, I24, I28)

scholarly journals Linked Coding: A Qualitative Investigation of the Impact of a College Transition Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Coleman-Tempel ◽  
Meghan Ecker-Lyster
Keyword(s):  
Minority Students ◽  
Low Income ◽  
College Transition ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Underrepresented Students ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Transition Program ◽  
Cultural Mismatch ◽  
College Ready ◽  
The Impact

Limited college knowledge often impacts underrepresented students’ ability to navigate the college setting, creating institutional barriers for these students once arriving on campus. Students who are first-generation, low-income, and/or minority students have been shown to be less “college ready” than their peers. This discrepancy in preparedness can be conceptualized as a cultural mismatch between the student’s background knowledge and the higher education institution's expectations and norms (Lohfink & Paulsen, 2005). This qualitative evaluation provides an in-depth investigation into first-generation, low-income, and minority students’ perceptions and experiences with a yearlong college transition program. The study explores how a college transition program can impact students’ social development.

Establishing the Need to Broaden Bioengineering Research Exposure and Research Participation in Mechanical Engineering and Its Positive Impacts on Student Recruitment, Diversification, Retention and Graduation: Findings From the UMBC ME S-STEM Scholarship Program

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Zhu ◽  
Charles Eggleton ◽  
Ronghui Ma ◽  
L. D. Timmie Topoleski ◽  
Deepa Madan
Keyword(s):  
Graduation Rates ◽  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Student Recruitment ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Undergraduate Program ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Scholarship Program ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Bio Engineering

Abstract The objectives of this study were to evaluate the current status of exposure to bio-engineering research in community college (CC) students and University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) students, and to estimate relationships between research activities sponsored by the Mechanical Engineering (ME) S-STEM Scholarship Program and improvement in student enrollment/diversification, retention rates, and graduation rates. The analysis drew on data from ME undergraduate academic records at UMBC from 2008 to 2019. A survey was designed to assess the research exposure of CC and UMBC students and their evaluation of the research components included in recruitment and curriculum activities. Results show that exposure to research measured by attending a research seminar was low for the participants, around 37% for CC students and 21% for ME students at UMBC. The survey results indicate the positive impact of the scholarship programs at UMBC on the research exposure and research experience. The impact is more evident in students who originally transferred from a CC. The large increase in recruited female and CC students over the past 10 years indicated that the research-related activities of the ME S-STEM program played an instrumental role in those increases. Because of the research-related activities, the ME S-STEM program achieved retention and graduation rates higher than those in the ME undergraduate program (89% versus 60% for the 6 year graduation rate), as well a higher percentage of students enrolled in graduate school (30% versus 10%). We conclude that there is still a need to implement research-related activities in the ME undergraduate program, starting with student recruitment and continuing through the academic program. Results suggest that there is a positive impact of ME S-STEM research activities on student diversification, retention rates, and percentage of our graduates who are pursuing graduate degree.

scholarly journals Mentoring for Inclusion: The Impact of Mentoring on Undergraduate Researchers in the Sciences

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. ar36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Haeger ◽  
Carla Fresquez
Keyword(s):  
Graduation Rates ◽  
Student Development ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Underrepresented Students ◽  
Underrepresented Minority ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Student Grades ◽  
The Impact

Increasing inclusion of underrepresented minority and first-generation students in mentored research experiences both increases diversity in the life sciences research community and prepares students for successful careers in these fields. However, analyses of the impact of mentoring approaches on specific student gains are limited. This study addresses the impact of mentoring strategies within research experiences on broadening access to the life sciences by examining both how these experiences impacted student success and how the quality of mentorship affected the development of research and academic skills for a diverse population of students at a public, minority-serving institution. Institutional data on student grades and graduation rates (n = 348) along with postresearch experience surveys (n = 138) found that students mentored in research had significantly higher cumulative grade point averages and similar graduation rates as a matched set of peers. Examination of the relationships between student-reported gains and mentoring strategies demonstrated that socioemotional and culturally relevant mentoring impacted student development during mentored research experiences. Additionally, extended engagement in research yielded significantly higher development of research-related skills and level of independence in research. Recommendations are provided for using mentoring to support traditionally underrepresented students in the sciences.

Campus of Opportunity: A Qualitative Analysis of Homeless Students in Community College

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarrett T. Gupton
Keyword(s):  
Community College ◽  
Community Colleges ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Homeless Youth ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Underrepresented Students ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Homeless Students

Objective: Community colleges are gateways of access to higher education for many underrepresented students. One group that has received little attention in the community college research literature is homeless youth. The objective of this research is to address the following research questions: (a) What might be learned from the narratives of homeless youth and their experiences in postsecondary education? and (b) How might community colleges promote interpersonal and institutional resilience for homeless students? Method: Utilizing qualitative research techniques, this article reviews the experiences’ of homeless youth attending community college and explores the ways in which community colleges might serve as sites for fostering resilience and stability in the lives of homeless students. Results: The results of this empirical work suggest that although homeless students do benefit from enrolling in community college, some of the benefits are not salient to them and they are unable to take full advantage of institutional resources. Contributions: The findings from this study contribute to the literature on low-income students’ experiences in community college and add the voices and experiences of homeless youth.

scholarly journals Investigating the Relationship between Residence Learning Community Participation and Student Academic Outcomes in a Canadian Institution

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine O Hobbins ◽  
Mildred Eisenbach ◽  
Kerry L Ritchie ◽  
Shoshanah Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Learning Community ◽  
Graduation Rates ◽  
Academic Outcomes ◽  
The United States ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
First Year ◽  
Comprehensive University ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Residential Living ◽  
The Relationship

This study investigated the relationship between residential living scenario and first year grades, second year retention, and 5-year graduation rates of students at a Canadian comprehensive university. We compared the academic outcomes of students living in residence learning communities (RLCs) to those in other living scenarios (traditional residences and off-campus). RLCs have been shown to be positively associated with student academic outcomes in the United States; however, the data to support RLCs in Canada is non-existent. A longitudinal observational study was conducted to analyse the academic outcomes of a complete cohort of students (n=4805) who lived in RLCs (18%) and non-RLCs (82%). Results indicated that RLC students, on average, achieved higher first year averages, 2nd year retention rates, and 5-year graduation rates relative to non-RLC students, thereby contributing to the goals of post-secondary institutions to attract and retain their students through to graduation. Cette étude examine la relation qui existe entre le scénario où les étudiants vivent en résidence et les notes obtenues en première année d’études, la rétention en deuxième année et l’obtention des diplômes en cinquième année dans une université canadienne polyvalente. Nous avons comparé les résultats académiques d’étudiants qui vivaient dans des communautés d’apprentissage en résidence (CAR) et ceux des étudiants qui vivaient selon d’autres scénarios (résidence traditionnelle et hors campus). Il a été prouvé qu’aux États-Unis, les CAR sont associées favorablement aux résultats académiques des étudiants. Toutefois, les données pour soutenir les CAR au Canada sont inexistantes. Une étude d’observation longitudinale a été menée pour analyser les résultats académiques d’une cohorte complète d’étudiants (n=4805) qui vivaient dans une CAR (18 %) et ceux d’étudiants qui vivaient autrement (82 %). Les résultats ont indiqué qu’en moyenne, les étudiants qui vivaient dans une CAR avaient obtenu de meilleures notes en première année, avaient réalisé un taux de rétention supérieur en deuxième année et un meilleur pourcentage d’obtention de diplômes en cinquième année, par rapport aux étudiants qui ne vivaient pas dans une CAR, ce qui contribue à répondre aux objectifs des établissements d’enseignement post-secondaire d’attirer et de retenir leurs étudiants jusqu’à que ceux-ci obtiennent leur diplôme.

The Impact of Wyman’s Teen Leadership Program on College Achievement and Retention

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Leadership Program ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Teen Leadership ◽  
Postsecondary Access ◽  
The Impact

Low-income, first-generation college students face a host of obstacles on their journeys toward degree completion. Providing effective supports for these students as they navigate their postsecondary experiences is an important determinant of success, the implications of which can be far-reaching. The purpose of the current study discussed in this article was to examine the impact of Wyman’s Teen Leadership Program (TLP) on positive college outcomes for low-income, first-generation students pursuing higher education at Missouri State University (MSU). TLP is a community-based, postsecondary access and success program comprising three developmentally progressive phases that begin when teens are ninth graders and ends after their second year of postsecondary education. During the postsecondary phase of the program, TLP works in close partnership with higher education institutions like MSU to effectively support students through caring relationships and coordinated services. Using a mixed-methods approach, the authors analyzed the college retention rates and grade point averages (GPAs) of 39 TLP participants attending MSU and 82 comparison students with similar background characteristics. Findings revealed statistically higher retention rates and GPAs for TLP participants compared to non-participants. Focus groups were also conducted to better understand the perceptions of TLP participants (n = 15) and TLP staff members (n = 6). Using Schlossberg’s (1989) theory of marginality and mattering as a framework, the authors analyzed focus group responses, from which three overarching themes emerged: relationships, intentional experiences, and self-efficacy. The study findings suggest that postsecondary access and success programs are most effective when their curricula and program experiences are supported by strong and consistent student-adult relationships.

Decision Risks and Individual Development Accounts: An Alternative View

2009 ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
Edmund Khashadourian
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Individual Development ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Alternative View ◽  
Risky Decision ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
Current Consumption ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low Income Households

This article analyzes the impact of risk on decisions made by the poor within the context of the Individual Development Account (IDA) program. IDA is a matched savings program designed to help low-income households invest in appreciating assets. For these households, the risk involved with participation in IDA relates to the sacrifice they make by reducing current consumption - sometimes in a significant way - in order to be able to save. The program does not offer a match on savings per se; rather, it offers the match only when savings are invested in certain assets. Since there is no guarantee that IDA savings will be converted into assets qualified for the IDA match at the time of enrollment, participation in the program is characterized as an inherently risky decision, which is governed by different sets of behavioral factors, including the risk-taking preferences of low-income households. Consideration of risk provides an alternative explanation for issues related to program take-up, inactivity, and attrition rates. It also offers new and simple ideas on how to improve results. In addressing these problems, the article recommends using an IDA model that includes a flexible match component, to insure against the risk of unmatched savings and complement the existing IDA match structure. Simple modifications to current policy will maintain the total cost of IDA match at the existing levels. Introduction of a flexible match may mitigate the risk of decision to participate in IDA for the most vulnerable group of participants. It can also potentially reduce the percentage of inactive accounts while improving the overall retention rates in the program. Moreover, the recommended changes would not alter the nature of the IDA program, as the flexible match would only amount to a fraction of the total asset investment match.

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