The Impact of Nudges on Cross-Enrollment Engagement and Registration: RCT Evidence From Three Community Colleges 

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 1:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Quantitative Examinations of Community College Policies and Interventions (Table 7)

Abstract

This study builds on previous research examining cross-enrollment rates between three Southern California community colleges and a public four-year university. Findings from the first year showed that 1.4% of students in the treatment group applied for cross-enrollment, and 0.08% registered. To gain a better understanding of the intervention, this study incorporates a second year of data and shifts focus to counseling appointments as a measure of student engagement with cross-enrollment. Findings suggest that while the intervention did not significantly affect total counseling sessions, it did increase the likelihood of having at least one session by 4.8 percentage points at one campus. These results provide insight into the role of targeted nudges and communication strategies in addressing barriers to cross-enrollment. 

Authors

• Michael Hill, University of California - Irvine

• Gala Merari Ledezma, University of California - Irvine

• Rachel B. Baker, University of Pennsylvania

• Joshua Dorman, University of California - Irvine