The Effects of the Diagnostic Assessment and Achievement of College Success Intervention

• In Event: Enhancing Student Outcomes: The Impact of College Success Courses, Programs, and Innovative Pedagogies

Abstract

The Diagnostic Assessment and Achievement of College Skills (DAACS) is an intervention designed to address college readiness among newly enrolled college students. It consists of a collection of open-source online diagnostic assessments, feedback, online educational resources, and social supports that promote readiness for college-level work. An experimental study conducted at two institutions (n = 13,147) indicates that freshman GPA for traditionally aged students attending the brick-and-mortar institution was 0.19 higher for treatment students (Cohen’s d= 0.19). In addition, the data show that student success increases as student engagement with DAACS increases. DAACS did not increase GPAs at the online institution nor term-to-term retention at either institution.

Authors

• Jason Bryer, City University of New York

• Heidi L. Andrade, University at Albany - SUNY

• Timothy J. Cleary, Rutgers University

• Angela M. Lui, CUNY - School of Professional Studies

• David W. Franklin, Diagnostic Assessment and Achievement of College Skills (DAACS)