Best
Practices
Book Review: Student Success in College, Creating Conditions that Matter by George D. Kuh et al.
Book Review: Student Success in College, Creating Conditions that Matter by George D. Kuh et al.
Colleges and universities are struggling to improve
graduation rates and help students achieve their educational goals. Four year colleges graduate only about 50% of
students within 6 years while community colleges have a 39% completion
rate. This book is a summary of recommendations
based on the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Documenting
Effective Educational Practice project (DEEP).
This project examined the practices of 20 colleges and universities that
performed well on measures of student engagement on the NSSE as well as had
better than predicted graduation rates (over 50%). The findings can provide some guidance for
colleges seeking to implement best practices for student success.
Student Engagement
The best predictors of graduation are academic preparation
and motivation (p. 7). However, many of
our students are lacking in these areas. It was noted that student engagement is a key
to student success, especially for students lacking preparation and motivation. Student engagement has two important
components, including the amount of time and effort students invest in their
studies and learning opportunities and services designed to engage students in
learning.
Summary of Best
Practices
Based on the DEEP study and other current research on
educational effectiveness, the following conditions are important best
practices: (p. xi)
·
Adequate student time on task
·
Balancing academic challenge with support for
students
·
Emphasis on early months and first year of study
·
Respect for diverse talents and cultural
differences
·
Integration of prior learning and experience
·
Ongoing practice of learned skills
·
Active learning
·
Assessment and feedback
·
Collaboration among students
·
Out-of-class contact with faculty
Effective Practices
at DEEP Colleges and Universities
Student Success in College focuses and these key areas for
institutional effectiveness and student success:
Effective
institutions have a clear, focused institutional mission.
The mission is a statement of philosophy, aspirations, values,
purposes, and traditions that is a guide for action. It is important that this mission include a
commitment to student success.
It is important to focus
on student learning as opposed to teaching.
There has been a shift from an emphasis on teaching to an
emphasis on learning. This new emphasis
on learning includes active and collaborative learning, using new electronic
technologies, problem solving, group projects, peer tutoring, service learning,
and internships. These new pedagogies
help students practice what they are learning, develop leadership skills,
prepare for the future world of work, and learn to work with diverse people.
Effective institutions place a high value on quality
teaching and professional development. People
within the institution have a passion for helping students develop their
potential and are knowledgeable about student engagement.
Effective colleges and universities make time for students
and provide prompt feedback. Students
participate in activities, ask questions, and use faculty office hours. Faculty provide feedback about strengths and
areas that need improvement.
Colleges can provide environments that are adapted for
student enrichment and engagement such as spaces for discussion and group
work.
It is helpful to create
clear pathways to student success.
Creating a clear pathway to success is especially important
for underrepresented students and those whose parents have not attended
college. Students need to know what to
expect and how to be successful. Clear
pathways include a welcome to the college, orientation programs, how to find
student services and other resources, programs for first-year students, and
formal groups for supporting underrepresented students. Summer transition programs are especially
helpful for underrepresented students. It
is important to provide activities to help students meet their peers and
connect to the institution.
One of the most important services is advising which is
especially important for student success and improves completion rates.
Other important components are early warning systems that
provide early assistance for students experiencing problems.
High performing institutions
are improvement-oriented.
These college monitor present performance and set goals for
improvement. They constantly work toward
positive change and value innovation. The goal is to be the best they can
be.
There is a shared responsibility
for educational quality and student success.
No single office, individual, or college division is
responsible for student success; it is a shared responsibility. Effective institutions have effective leaders
and diverse faculty and staff. Student
services work in partnership with academic affairs to assure student success.
Faculty help students to assume responsibility for their own
learning. Students do classroom
presentations and tutor or assist other students outside the classroom. Students participate in campus
governance.
Here are some
important components of educational quality leading to student success:
Level of Academic Challenge
Successful practices include academic rigor including the
requirement to spend time preparing for classes, reading assignments, and
writing reports. It includes critical
thinking which involves analyzing, synthesizing, applying theories, and making
judgements. The key to success is both
academic challenge and appropriate support to achieve the desired outcomes. Support can include required study groups,
meetings with faculty and advisers, workshops, tutoring, and assistance with
writing.
When faculty have high expectations of students, students
generally meet the challenge. Most
first-year experience programs help students adapt to these higher levels of
expectations, especially the increased emphasis on reading and writing.
Active and Collaborative Learning
Students practice what they are learning by working in
groups, solving problems, asking questions in class, group projects, peer
evaluation, learning communities, tutoring other students, participating in
service learning, and active discussion of classroom materials.
Faculty are encouraged to present material in multiple
ways. For example, project or portfolio based learning helps
students utilize many diverse ways of learning.
In this way, students are required to learn and then demonstrate what
they have learned. Students learn that
they are active rather than passive learners.
Student and Faculty Interaction
Effective institutions foster many kinds of student and
faculty interactions including discussing career plans with an adviser, faculty
mentors, classroom interaction, feedback from faculty on student performance,
participating in student activities, involvement in committees, and engaging is
campus governance. Appropriate space
needs to be provided for these activities.
Technology is providing newer ways to enhance interaction
through the use of course management systems such as Blackboard or Canvas.
Enriching Educational Experiences
College campuses provide the opportunity to interact with
people of different races, ethnicities, religions, socio-economic level, and
political beliefs. These experiences
help students to work in a diverse environment after graduation. Community service and service learning
projects provide students with valuable experience and leadership opportunities
that can enhance employment prospects after graduation. Internships provide additional experiences
that can lead to employment after graduation.
Supportive Classroom Environment
Students are more successful when they have adequate support
to achieve their goals. Support can
include the traditional student services, accessible faculty and staff,
transition programs, first-year experience seminars, peer mentors, and early
warning systems.
Summary
The ideas in this book provide a roadmap or checklist of
ideas that colleges and universities can implement to improve institutional
effectiveness and student success. Some
of these ideas are familiar and common on most college campuses, but they are a
comprehensive roadmap for improvement.
Notes:
George D. Kuh et al., Student
Success in College, Creating Conditions that Matter, (San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2010).
