MACRAO Colleagues:
Following from our discussions at the Spring MACRAO meeting, I attach three memos for your review on tracking of math/writing corequisite course sections, math/writing placement, and first generation status. Could you please review and respond by Friday July 12th with comments or questions. I am glad to join a call to discuss.
These are drafts for review, so your thoughts are most appreciated.
Our goal in tracking these variables consistently is to better identify and learn from models, initiatives, or approaches to that can help first generation students or students with developmental math or writing needs. Our current – often labor intensive – approach to tracking math success in particular has often produced flawed data that is not particularly helpful in answering lingering questions regarding models to help students who need support in math.
We also anticipate that these fields will be helpful should campuses or the system join the Postsecondary Data Partnership (an effort through the National Student Clearinghouse to develop course-level linked data on student success). Gates, Lumina, and other major foundations that regularly grant to universities or systems appear to be moving to require new grantees to conduct their reporting through the partnership. Moving on these key variables now should lessen the burden in the likely event the system be tasked with joining the partnership in future.
Kind Regards,
Joseph Thiel
Director of Academic Policy and Research
Montana University System
406-449-9134
