Dear Colleagues,

Fatma

At GVSU, we're breathing new urgency into discussions about D/F/W outcomes for a few specific reasons. First of all, each D, F, or W grade represents a poor use of both a student's and a faculty member's resources (time, effort, tuition money). Second, evidence has shown that D/F/W grades are highly predictive of longer-term challenges, especially for students in their first year of college. For example, for each D/F/W result a student earns in the first year, the associated six-year graduation rate decreases by 13 percentage points. The third reason for urgency is equity. The financial and psychological impacts of a D/F/W grade are much higher for students from low-income families and underserved backgrounds. As we strive to offer educational opportunities to a broader student population, these efforts are counterproductive if the new students cannot be successful. (view data) 

We have expanded the number of course-based academic support services that are integrated into classes with high D/F/W rates in three ways. First, the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Writing have recently instituted stretch classes which allow students to take introductory math and writing courses over two semesters rather than one. In Fall 2023, 51 sections of WRT 120 were offered, providing 918 seats and enrolling 899 students. Also in Fall 2023, 19 sections of MTH 108 were offered, providing 456 seats and enrolling 454 students. Assessment of these pilot courses is ongoing. Second, the Department of Chemistry has run a successful “parachute” program for several years that allows students in CHM 115 to move into CHM 100 with no tuition or late fee penalties so they can build the skills to succeed in later chemistry courses. This semester, the Department of Biology is piloting this option for BIO 120 and the Department of Physics is piloting this option for PHY 220. Twenty-seven students are taking advantage of these three parachute courses this fall. We are researching ways to encourage more of the students who can benefit from this option to actually take it. Third, GVSU offers Structured Learning Assistance (SLA), Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS), and embedded tutoring programs that integrate academic support into the classroom and/or into class expectations. About 30 SLA/PASS sections are offered per year, serving select 100 and 200 level courses in Biology, Biomedical Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Mathematics, Psychology, and Statistics. In addition, this year nine course sections are piloting embedded tutoring, including multiple sections of the stretch courses MTH 108 and 109. 

These course-based initiatives are in addition to the academic support offered by the Tutoring and Reading Center, the Knowledge Market, the Speech Lab, and the Writing Center. Usage of these services is up: this fall the newly renovated and expanded Tutoring and Reading Center is seeing a 40% increase in overall usage and a 12% increase in unique student count, and Knowledge Market consultations are up 35%. The Writing Center embeds consultants into every section of WRT 120, 130, and 150 to ensure student access to the support the Center provides. The Provost’s Office has agreed to increase the student wage budget for all these areas in order to offer a more competitive wage to tutors and increase the number of tutors available. 

We are also refining the processes and supports in place throughout the semester that assist students who are having academic difficulty. In week four of the term, all new students were invited to complete “MySuccessCheck” through which they could identify areas in which they are struggling; staff in housing and the Student Academic Success Center follow up with students who indicated they needed support on the survey. At mid-terms, first-year students who earned at least one D or F were contacted by their academic advisor, and if the student is participating in an affinity group such as Oliver Wilson Scholars or one of our Laker Connections programs, the staff in those offices also reached out. Throughout the semester, staff are contacting students for whom faculty have filed an academic alert in Navigate or CARE report. Approximately 800 CARE reports (personal, health concerns) have been filed this fall, which is about 14% less than last year at this time. Over 1300 Navigate academic alerts have been filed by faculty this fall, which is over 500 more than this time last year. Staff follow up on all reports that are filed; however, in some cases the student never responds to outreach. Academic alerts in Navigate are “closed” after connecting with the student or three failed attempts at outreach. 

These efforts are just the beginning. Plans are underway to double the number of learning communities for fall 2024 – learning communities at GVSU have been shown to positively impact course grades, retention, and graduation for all students, especially students of color and those who are the first in their family to attend college. The Office of the Provost is funding an initiative proposed by CLAS professors Deborah Herrington (Chemistry) and Janet Vigna (Biology) to engage faculty cohorts in systematic course redesign to support student success in high-enrolled, multi-section, high D/F/W courses. Faculty cohorts will participate in the Gardner Institute’s Gateways to Completion experience and partner with the Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center to develop long-term sustainable support for course redesign and professional development. Departments with courses that may benefit from this initiative are being invited to develop a faculty team for the first cohort and will begin working with the Gardner Institute during the Winter 2024 semester. A campus-wide committee is developing a plan for redesigning academic advising with the goal of strategically leveraging advising as a key component of our retention efforts; the redesign will lower advisor to student ratios, with advisors using data to conduct more proactive and intentional outreach to students. 

GVSU faculty and staff have always been committed to student success, and the efforts described here build on that proud tradition. 

Jennifer Drake, Cathy Buyarski, and Philip Batty

Disability Support Resources (DSR) Final Exam Week
Final exams proctored by Disability Support Resources (DSR) must be delivered to DSR at least 24 hrs. before your student’s exam date. If your student is testing on December 11, please deliver the exam by noon on December 8. If DSR does not receive the exam and required materials by the 24-hour deadline, they will assume your student will not test with them and therefore will be testing with you. You will be responsible for informing the student(s) that they will be testing with you, and you will be required to proctor the 3-hour exam for your student. If you have any additional questions, please contact Jay Brown.

Excused Absences Reminder
A reminder about excused class absences: The GVSU attendance policy indicates the following are excused absences: 1) participation in an intercollegiate event; 2) religious holidays; 3) military duty; 4) jury duty, or appearance in court; 5) medical conditions that preclude class attendance; 6) birth or adoption of child; 7) attendance at an academic/professional conference; and 8) bereavement for an individual of significant relationship. The full policy can be found at this link.

Commencement Volunteers Needed
There is an opportunity to serve at the upcoming Commencement ceremony on December 9, 3 p.m., Van Andel Arena, downtown Grand Rapids. Volunteers are needed to help make this event a grand success for our graduates. If you are interested in volunteering, please submit your interest by November 28. The Commencement planning team will communicate assigned roles closer to the event.

Have you recently published a book?
In addition to highlighting grants and funding received by Academic Affairs colleagues, we want to showcase the books published by our faculty and staff. Take a moment to complete the online form by providing details about your book. Include a brief description, attach cover art, and provide a link where peers can learn more about your publication. This opportunity allows you to share your scholarly achievements and fosters a community of knowledge. We look forward to featuring book publications in addition to research/scholarship funding in future editions of Lakers Ready.

Bb Roadmap/Feedback Opportunity
Guests from Anthology will be coming to campus on December 6, 1-3 p.m., 2266 Kirkhof, Allendale Campus, for a special Bb Ultra preview meeting to discuss the roadmap of upcoming feature enhancements and provide feedback to the product development team. Reservations are not required but to be best prepared, please gather your questions before the meeting. Visit the eLearning Technologies homepage to submit your questions and provide feedback.