Retention and Completion Report for Equity Scorecard
May 7, 2013

Team members: Carey Childers, Rich Lane, Rogers Laugand, Rose Logue, David Lott, Cahndice Matthews, Jimmy
McGee, Miguel Olivas-Lujan, Susan Turell
Focal Effort A
st

rd

Focal Effort: Close Equity Gap in African American Retention 1 to 3 year.

Equity Gap: The retention rate for African American students is 38.2% which is 21.6 percentage points
below the average retention rate of 59.8%. This difference represents a loss of 15 African American
st
rd
students during the 1 to 3 year. By 2015, tuition, appropriation and fees for these students will be
$294,000 (using 2012-13 tuition, fee, appropriations).

Equity Goal
Evaluation
Indicator
African American
st
rd
1 to 3 yr
Retention Rate by
Percent

Baseline
2005 Cohort
38.2%

Goal 1
Fall 2013
44%

Goal 2
Fall 2014
51%

Equity
Fall 2015
59.8%

African American
st
rd
1 to 3 yr
Retention Rate by
Number

26

30

35

41

Focal Effort B
Focal Effort: Close Equity Gap in African American 6 yr Graduation Rate.

Equity Gap: The 6 yr graduation rate for African American students is 30.9% which is 18.4 percentage
points below the average graduation rate of 49.3%. This difference represents a loss of 13 African
American students graduating. By 2015, tuition, appropriation and fees for these students will be
$546,000 (using current costs).

Equity Goal
Evaluation
Indicator
African American 6
yr Graduation Rate
by Percent

Baseline
2005 Cohort
30.9%

Goal 1
Fall 2013
35%

Goal 2
Fall 2014
41%

Equity
Fall 2015
49.3%

African American 6
yr Graduation Rate
by Number

21

24

28

34

Focal Effort C
st

Focal Effort: Close Equity Gap in Latino Retention 1 to 2

nd

year.

Equity Gap: The retention rate for Latino students is 61.5% which is 11.1 percentage points below the
st
average retention rate of 72.6%. This difference represents a loss of 1.5 Latino students during the 1 to
nd
2 year. By 2015, tuition, appropriation and fees for these students will be $21,000 (using current costs).

Equity Goal
Evaluation
Indicator
st
nd
Latino 1 to 2 yr
Retention Rate by
Percent

Baseline
2005 Cohort
61.5%

Goal 1
Fall 2013
63%

Goal 2
Fall 2014
67%

Equity
Fall 2015
72.6%

st

8

8

9

10

nd

Latino 1 to 2 yr
Retention Rate by
Number

Focal Effort D
Focal Effort: Close Equity Gap in Latino Graduation Rate.

Equity Gap: The 6 yr graduation rate for Latino students is 38.5% which is 10.8 percentage points below
the average graduation rate of 49.3%. This difference represents a loss of 1 Latino students. By 2015,
tuition, appropriation and fees for these students will be $105,000 (using current costs).

Equity Goal
Evaluation
Indicator
Latino 6 yr
Graduation Rate
by Percent

Baseline
2005 Cohort
38.5%

Goal 1
Fall 2013
41%

Goal 2
Fall 2014
45%

Equity
Fall 2015
49.3%

Latino 6 yr
Graduation Rate
by Number

5

5

6

6

Equity Scorecard
Recommendations for Retention and Completion
1.

May 7, 2013

Provide series of Intentional and Inclusive Pedagogy Workshops to enhance learning in gateway courses
 Workshop for deans and department chairs to contextualize and share gateway data
 Other faculty development events focused on inclusive pedagogy
Suggested responsible: Provost (through CITE)

2. More intentional & active engagement and outreach to incoming and current students and families to
explain financial aid and the billing process. Examples include:
 Video how-to modules re: FAFSA
 Redraft financial hold and warning letter/email for clarity and simplicity
 Initiate earlier and more personal contact with students with monetary problems
 Remove any language barriers such as jargon
 Provide step by step guidance to students and parents regarding the college affordability
estimator. http://www.collegeportraits.org/PA/Clarion/estimator/agree
Suggested responsible: Student Financial Services
3. Examine $250 threshold for financial holds regarding effect on retention of African American and Latino
students and adjust as indicated
Suggested responsible: VP for Finance and Administration
4. Redraft the suspension letter for clarity and simplicity and develop specific rubric for suspension decisions
based on predictors for academic success
Suggested responsible: Academic Standards Committee
5. Create and implement intervention strategies for African American and Latino students on probation
Suggested responsible: Center for Academic Achievement (AE)
6. Contact African American and Latino students to encourage participation in and provide support for
suspension appeal process
Suggested responsible: Center for Academic Achievement (MSS)
7. Recommend that the focal effort outcomes are added to the academic and infrastructure scorecards.
Suggested responsible: President
8. Include a statement or language that addresses equity gaps in Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) for internal
grants--such as, “If relevant, how might you intentionally include URM (underrepresented minority students
in this project?”
Suggested responsible: Grant Officer
9. Provide graduation rates for African Americans and Latinos to the Deans comparing the proportion of
students coming in to the number graduating to support scorecard and program review processes.
Suggested responsible: Provost to Deans to Department Chairs