Investigating the Impact of Early Interventions in College Student Success

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: College Student Persistence and Completion

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of a popular intervention in higher education using predictive analytics to flag students at risk of dropping out, and corresponding intervention to contact these students. We utilized a Quasi-Experimental Design to measure the impact on outcomes and survey to understand student perceptions. The results of the analysis show that, while being flagged by the predictive tool was a small-to-moderately important factor in predicting number of courses passed and retention, it was not the most important. Furthermore, while being contacted was a moderately important contributor to differences in outcomes, it was not the most important. Contacting flagged students may be beneficial, but it may not have the positive impact colleges desire.

Authors

• Gina G. Romano, State of Indiana

• Molly Chamberlin, Chamberlin & Dunn

• Cory Clasemann-Ryan, Ivy Tech Community College