In supporting students as they make the transition to campus life and beyond, officials at some colleges recognize that students may be transitioning into motherhood as well. Women now make up 71 percent of student parents, according to the Institute of Women's Policy Research. An influx of students who have recently become mothers on four-year […]
A Kentucky university saw Cohort Default Rates plummet and financial literacy improve almost immediately after implementing two programs that take different, but related, approaches to student success. At the end of 2013, the three colleges that now make up Sullivan University in Louisville had Cohort Default Rates of about 25 percent each. At the end of […]
What is the state of unstructured data on college campuses today? There is a huge proliferation of information produced, from emails to applications for financial aid and dorm rooms. Gartner estimates that upward of 80 percent of enterprise data today is unstructured. But the business strategy to capture this content and organize it for efficiency […]
Education played a key role in state and federal congressional races, and placed second among issues promoted in gubernatorial campaign ads. Twenty new governors took seats from incumbents, while Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives. Policy analysts said several gubernatorial candidates won on the promise of reforming higher ed systems to provide affordable […]
An online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree made its debut in UPenn's College of Liberal and Professional Studies. While many of the Ivies have digital advanced learning programs, this is the first time one has created an online option for undergrads. The university had been offering a part-time bachelor's option for working adults […]
Three months before going live with a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system—Workday— Indian River State College was missing one important piece: payment processing technology, specifically a cashiering product for in-person payments. "We would've been dead in the water," says Amanda Bock, bursar. "The payment technology company [we reached out to] wasn't even communicating with […]
Open education resources (OER) provide significant cost savings to low-income students and strengthen instruction and learning, according to a recent study from Achieving the Dream, a national nonprofit that supports evidence-based institutional improvement. The study also examined, for the first time, OER-related costs and revenue for an institution. Developing an OER course averages $11,700 (including […]
The University of Maryland created a webpage (UBmag.me/mold) to keep the campus informed about mold remediation efforts, including FAQs such as: Q: What steps can I take to help prevent mold growth? A: The key is moisture control: Keep windows closed, particularly during periods of high humidity and rain. If you observe flooding or water […]
Claims data can provide a wealth of knowledge—if you know where to look. To start, be sure to keep your eye on these four data points that can help identify costly problems or student trends that need addressing. Determine whether atypical large claims are derailing your plan Review the section of your claims report that […]
It turns out that a key factor in students finishing college is their experience during the very start of college, from the moment they send their deposit through freshman orientation. Institutions find that switching the focus of orientation to fostering campus connections boosts student engagement, and research links student connectedness to retention. So at many […]