impact of career services retention, graduation, confidence, slos & sdos

Impact of Career Services

Retention, Graduation, Confidence, SLOs & SDOs

ID 1201: Major and Career Exploration Relationship Between Completion of a Career Course, Student Retention, and Graduation Rates

• Background– During summer 2008 the effects of career courses on

University of Minnesota students were examined• Research Questions Asked:

– 1. Are students who have completed ID 1201 more likely to be retained by the University of Minnesota than students who have not taken the course?

– 2. Are students who have completed ID 1201 more likely to graduate than students who have not taken the course?


• Procedure– Data were reviewed from Fall 1999 - Spring 2008. – Student retention and graduation rates were examined

for two groups of students*: • Those who took ID 1201• Those who never took ID 1201.

(For most of our analysis, in order to more easily examine graduation and retention rates, we chose to focus only on students who first enrolled at the University of Minnesota as

freshmen.)


• Student Characteristics:

– 2,773 students enrolled in ID 1201 from Fall 1999 through Spring 2008.

– Students who enroll in ID 1201 may be slightly less academically prepared than students who do not enroll in the course.

Table 1: Comparison of NHS Students, Fall 1999-Fall 2007

Completed ID 1201

Did not take ID 1201

CLA Students

High School Rank 81.8 82.2 ACT Composite Score 24.0 25.2

Non-CLA Students

High School Rank 70.4 76.9 ACT Composite Score 23.0 24.8


• Results– Students who complete ID 1201 may be retained, and

may graduate, at higher rates than students who have not taken the class.

– CLA students who have taken ID 1201 seem to out-perform their peers who have not.

– All students who have completed the course taken ID 1201 seem to out-perform their peers who have not.


1 Year Rates (All students from Fall 1999-Fall 2006)

4 Year Rates (Students with first terms from Fall 1999-Fall 2003



Graduation Completed ID 1201

43.5% 68.3% 74.2%

Did Not Complete ID 1201

40.2% 58.5% 62.0%

Retention (includes students who graduated and those enrolled for fall term)

Completed ID 1201

92.8% 78.4% 75.6% 78.1%


81.5% 67.7% 65.7% 65.6%

Table 2: Graduation and Retention Rates, Fall-Term CLA NHS Students


1 Year Rates (All students from Fall 1999-Fall 2006)




Graduation Completed ID 1201

39.8% 64.4% 71.6%


37.5% 57.5% 61.7%

Retention (includes students who graduated and those enrolled for fall term)

Completed ID 1201

91.3% 77.7% 73.7% 76.1%


85.3% 68.2% 66.1% 65.7%

Table 3: Graduation and Retention Rates, Fall-Term NHS Students From All Colleges

Discussion

• Can’t conclude that taking ID 1201 is causing better graduation and retention rates.

• Students in ID 1201 class may be predisposed (due to some other mitigating factor), for graduating sooner than their peers.

• Elevated retention and graduation rates of students who have taken ID 1201 even with slightly lower ACT scores and high school ranks of students in the class.

• ID 1201’s seems to be an effective tool for promoting student success.

CSOM BA 3000 Career Skills

• Mandatory career skills class for all sophomores (this class has been required for more than 10 years)

• Correlation but not causation• 2008 retention data*:

– 1st year retention: 95.9%– 2nd year retention: 90.6%– 3rd year retention: 82.8%

• 2008 4 year graduation rate*:– 76.3%

*All of these numbers are based on students who start & stay in CSOM. Numbers would be slightly higher if students who leave CSOM but stay and graduate from the U in another college are

included).

IT- 1312 Exploring Careers in Science and Engineering

Variables Found with Significant Levels of Increase in Students’ Confidence*

• Select one major from a list of potential majors you are considering• Change majors if you did not like your first choice• Identify some reasonable major or career alternatives if you are unable to get

your first choice• Find information about occupations you are interested in• Select one occupation from a list of potential occupations you are considering• Determine what your ideal job would be• Choose a career that will fit your preferred lifestyle

* Significance was found using a 95% Confidence Interval, p< .05

IT- 1312 Exploring Careers in Science and Engineering

Variables Found with Significant Levels of Increase in Students’ Confidence*

• Make a career decision and then not worry about whether it was right or wrong

• Accurately assess your abilities• Define the type of lifestyle you would like to live• Prepare a good resume.• Identify employers, firms, institutions relevant to your career possibilities• Find information about graduate or professional school• Successfully manage the job interview process• Find resources needed to set-up and internship/co-op

* Significance was found using a 95% Confidence Interval, p< .05

SPCCC—CFAN 3201 Strategic Career Planning

Students rated their confidence on the following tasks on a scale of 1-5, where 1 = Little Confidence and 5 = High Confidence. (N=119)

• Question--Please RATE YOUR CONFIDENCE in your ability to undertake the following job search tasks.

Pre-Test Post-Test List 5 companies or organizations that would be suitable employers for you. 3.39 4.29 Write a customized resume and cover letter. 3.08 4.43 Describe your intended career direction in a short paragraph 3.34 4.22 Identify skills that transfer from previous to future work experiences 3.53 4.44 Create a portfolio to illustrate your accomplishments to a prospective employer.

2.64 3.77

Conduct a job interview in which you communicate your skills and give examples of situations in which you use them.

3.08 4.08


• Question--Please RATE YOUR CONFIDENCE in your ability to access

career-related resources. Pre-Test Post-Test Name 3 professionals within your intended career field who could give you career-related advice

2.96 4.45

Conduct an informational interview with a professional in a field that interests you to learn more about that field.

3.34 4.57

Name two professional associations related to your career interests. 3.09 4.23 Identify three resources (electronic/print) for job openings or company info. 3.34 4.58


• Question--Please RATE YOUR CONFIDENCE in your ability to undertake career-related tasks in the following ways:

Pre-Test Post-Test Work independently to explore career options, gain experience and prepare for job search.

3.38 4.55

Ask for and offer others assistance with career planning. 3.23 4.37 Set, take action toward and reach your career-planning goals. 3.46 4.47 Confidently portray your accomplishments and potential in a job interview. 3.28 4.31 Follow through, in a timely fashion, on all appointments and commitments. 4.08 4.65 Bounce back after the disappointment of not getting an internship or job. 3.64 4.16 Appreciate differences in viewpoint and experience of co-workers and supervisors.

4.03 4.52

Tolerate the uncertainty of a new internship or job. 3.86 4.34

Mapping to Outcomes

• CSOM-- BA 3000 https://apps.csom.umn.edu/ole/uggoals/index.cfm • CLA--ID 1201see handout, pre & post surveys• CLA—ID 3201pre & post surveys• CLA—ID 3208See handout, pre & post surveys

https://apps.csom.umn.edu/ole/uggoals/index.cfm

impact of career services retention, graduation, confidence, slos & sdos

Documents

graduation rates of

retention rates

student retention

cla students

year retention

groups of students

graduation rates table

complete id