what is the problem?
DESCRIPTION
Challenges in Curriculum Adaptation across Institutions of Higher Education: Similarities between International and National Student Transfer. R. Kempter, C. Furse, N. Cotter (University of Utah) N. Safai, L. Brinton (Salt Lake Community College). Question:. What is the best policy for - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Challenges in Curriculum Adaptation across Institutions of Higher Education:
Similarities between International and National Student Transfer
R. Kempter, C. Furse, N. Cotter (University of Utah)N. Safai, L. Brinton (Salt Lake Community College)
What is the Problem?
• Majority of the undergraduate students in UofU ECE transfer from nearby 2 year schools.
• Courses and grading may or may not be identical.
Question:
What is the best policy for admitting undergraduate transfer students?
Are Courses & Grades Equal?
=
?
4 year programs
2 year programs
=
?
=?
=?
=
?=
?
=?
Concurrent HS
program:
“Lead the Way”
=?
Are Courses & Grades Equal?
=
!
4 year programs
2 year programs
=
!
=!
=!
=
!=
!
=!
Utah Legislature:“They MUST be!”
Concurrent HS
program:
“Lead the Way”
=!
Today’s Undergrad Transfer Procedures
GPA> 2.8↓
9 credit hours
BAB
2nd year grades
4th year grades
2nd year grades
4th year grades
B+B+B
BAB
• Credits transfer, Grades do not
• Admission to Major status in ECE in sophomore year:
GPA>2.8, up to a max of 75 students/year
Transfer Procedures: Issues
2nd year grades
4th year grades
B+B+B
BAB
GPA= 2.81
9 credit hours
BAB
2nd year grades
4th year grades
Case 1: Transfer student has lower 2nd year GPA than UofU student
2nd year GPA = 3.16 2nd year GPA = 2.81
Graduation GPA = 3.1 Graduation GPA = 3.33
AAA
Transfer Procedures: Issues
2nd year grades
4th year grades
AAA
BAB
BAB
2nd year GPA = 4.0 2nd year GPA = 4.0
2nd year grades
4th year grades
Case 2: Top students with high 2nd year GPAs
What if there’s grade inflation between UofU and transfer Institution?
But
Graduation GPA = 3.66 Graduation GPA = 3.33
Transfer Procedures: Issues
Case 3: Assume grade inflation is involved
2nd year GPA = 2.5<2.8
2nd year grades
ECE 1000: B-ECE 2270: B-ECE 2000: C
2nd year GPA = 3.66>2.8
2nd year grades
ECE 1000: A-ECE 2270: A-ECE 2000: B+
Tracking the Individual Student
GPA at unaccredited institution
Range of grades at unaccredited institution
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
GP
A
GPA at Graduation from UoU
Range of grades from UofU
Student• 24/67 students: 0 transfers• 43/67 students transferred
an average of 3.37 classes
ECE Undergraduate Student Performance
35/43 T students GPA ↓
8/43 T students GPA ↑
Grade inflation, UofU students disadvantage
2 year colleges
Academic performance may be lower
Reasons for Transfer
4 year colleges
Freshmen competitively selected
= =
All of these indicate risk-factors for lower academic performance
Result of transfer
“Classic” grading on a curve cannot be used as a performance estimator between different groups!
Result:Difference in student demographics leads to different student performance statistics.
Probation for Transfer students prior to admission to major status
Current “Solution”
Pros: academic standards are maintainedCons: possibly unfair, singles out transfer
students, unpopular with good students
Possible solutions
Sounds familiar?Not a novel situation, common situation in especially international graduate student transfer.
There we have:• Very different academic performance spectra
• Tuition levels vary greatly, students may be more or less motivated (amount/time)
• Greatly varying academic climate
• Standardized tests (TOEFL, GRE…)• GPA and school history • Permanent performance monitoring, GPA>3.0• International advisor, mandatory
How cope?
Possible Undergrad Solutions: The Future
Constant performance monitoring and mandatory advisor as for international graduate students?→ proven effective, good results!
Standardized state-wide pre-ECE test, something like the SAT?
Common exam before admission to ECE major status for all students?
Conclusion
• We investigated national student transfer on the undergraduate level
• Different student demographics lead to measurably different student performance statistics:→ Grading on a curve problematic
• U of U accepts credits but not grades:
- Grade inflation, UofU students are at disadvantage (75 max/year, GPA>2.8)
: disadvantage at Graduation
Good students
-
: advantage at Graduation
Dull students
-
Conclusion: Ways to Cope
• Future?
- Standardized tests such as SAT, GRE
- Common exam before major status in ECE
- Constant performance monitoring for undergraduates, → same as for international graduate students
- Mandatory undergraduate advisor
Currently: transfer students are put on probation•
Pros: academic standards are maintainedCons: unfair, singles out transfer students
Conclusion: Ways to Cope
if undergraduate_student_transfer == 1grading=standardized
end
Curriculum development has to be harmonized across institutions!
Questions ?
Roland Kempter, Dr. Cynthia FurseElectrical and Computer Engineering, University of [email protected], [email protected]