Using Data to Inform Our Actions and Improve Educational Equity at K-State

Using Data to Inform Our Actions and Improve Educational Equity at K-State
Engagement: Intermediate

One powerful sign of improving and achieving educational equity is retention and degree completion parity across all student sub‐populations. At K‐State, overall first‐year retention the 6‐year graduation rates for first‐time freshmen are 85.8% and 65.2% respectively, but for Black students, the same statistics are 80.9% and 38.3%. We can do better.

Primarily intended for academic program leaders, this session is will explore how our institutional data can inform our priorities to improve our student success outcomes. Using case studies, we will provide examples of uneven outcomes when institutional or college data are disaggregated by student sub‐population. Our case studies will include institutional outcomes (retention and graduation rates) as well as course‐specific outcomes (DFW rates). Following a brief overview and data presentation, participants will engage in brainstorming possible individual, program, and institutional responses to these uneven outcomes. This session will focus on responsible interpretation of data, goal setting, and action steps for improving systemic disadvantages.

Presenters

Dr. Jeannie Brown Leonard
Vice Provost, Student Success

I joined K‐State in January 2020 to provide leadership in support of the university’s Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) initiatives. The Student Success unit helps K‐State students achieve their academic, personal, and career goals by offering enrichment and support. We collaborate frequently with the Colleges, Student Life, and Enrollment Management. I serve on the K‐State Core Teams charged with promoting access as well as equitable educational outcomes for students of color. Over my 30 year career in higher education, I have used data to improve program effectiveness and promote student success in a range of institutional contexts.

Dr. Bin Ning
Associate Provost, Institutional Research

Bin Ning is the founding associate provost of institutional research at Kansas State University. For the past 19 years, he has served in leadership positions of institutional research offices at multiple universities and colleges. His primary roles at K-State include leading highly professional teams of analytics, reporting, and assessment, advocating a culture of data-driven decision making, and promoting the use of consistent information through cross-divisional collaborations. His primary research interests are focused on using analytics to enhance student success and institutional effectiveness, predictive modeling methodologies, and comparative higher education.