Benefits of 8-Week Courses at Ivy Tech: A Comparative Study

 
8-Week Course
Initiative at Ivy Tech
 
Dr. Cory Clasemann-Ryan
 
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Ivy Tech joined Achieving the Dream (ATD) in 2010 – using data to
increase student success
Withdrawal rate (official and “unofficial”) is between 15-20% each term
Ivy Tech has offered 8-week courses for many years
Historically 10-15 percentage point higher pass rate than in 16-week courses
Withdrawal rates are lower
Asked former VCAA to research and write a white paper
Growing trend nationally to offer more 8-week courses
Course success higher nationally
 
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Growing trend nationally to offer more 8-week courses
Course success higher nationally and at Ivy Tech
At Ivy Tech 8-week courses have lower withdrawal rates
Approximately 10 percentage points lower in 8-week courses
 
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Only take 1-3 classes at a time
No more class time over 16-week
term
Avoids burnout, which typically
occurs around week 10
More “on ramps” – don’t have to
wait until next semester to start or
retake a class
 
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Only teach 2-3 courses at a time
Avoid burnout
Longer class sessions increase
opportunities to integrate active
learning
 
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Findings presented to Cabinet and Executive Council in Nov./Dec. 2017
Faculty Council provided input and support in Nov. 2017
With fall registration opening in March 2018 campuses encouraged to
increase offerings responsibly
Added to Strategy 1.4 (educational pathways provide for continuous
enrollment through completion)
Visited Odessa College (2017 Aspen Prize finalist and Rising Star award
winner) to learn best practices from a leading institution
Summer 2018 added statewide co-leads and 80 campus champions
During both 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years internal “mini-grants”
were offered to support faculty/staff in the transition
 
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1-20/21 sequence of courses for students to take
Developed by curriculum committees
Had existing semester plan as foundation
Needed to evaluate for relevancy, sequence, and within 8-week structure
Benefits to students
Students have a clear pathway to completion
Students always know what to take next, even if they stop out
Reduces appearance of too many course options for students to consider, which can
be overwhelming
May provide opportunities to provide incentives for students who stay on
track and are continuously enrolled
 
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Fall 2019: More than half (58%) of all
courses offered in 8-week format
Second year utilizing 8-week champions
to support campus leadership and 8-
week transition
Revised mini-grants to support campus
collaboration
Beginning to address need to provide
support services in new and innovative
ways
On-going faculty/staff professional
development becoming part of our culture
 
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Of the 14 core gateway courses when comparing 8-week vs. 16-week –
pass rates were 6 percentage points higher
 
When comparing all 8-week vs. 16-week courses
Withdraw rates (W grades) were 3.4 percentage points lower
8.4% vs. 5.0%
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10.1% vs. 7.7%
 
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Richmond Medical Assisting students
 
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Continue to share data widely each semester and create dialogue around
its meaning
Continue soliciting feedback from students and faculty on 8-week courses
There is no set target on how many classes will be offered in 8-weeks
Goal is to move every class that can be transitioned in a responsible way
that is best for the student
There are very solid reasons why some classes at best offered in a 16-week format
Campuses asked to determine what those are
“At scale” in Fall 2021
 
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Ivy Tech's 8-week course initiative, led by Dr. Cory Clasemann-Ryan, aims to increase student success through lower withdrawal rates. The white paper findings reveal that nationally, 8-week courses show higher success rates. Benefits include reduced burnout, continuous enrollment pathways, and faculty engagement. Implementation strategies include intentional processes, completion guides, and campus support. The shift to 8-week courses offers a clear pathway to completion and enhances student outcomes.


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  1. 8-Week Course Initiative at Ivy Tech Dr. Cory Clasemann-Ryan

  2. Background Ivy Tech joined Achieving the Dream (ATD) in 2010 using data to increase student success Withdrawal rate (official and unofficial ) is between 15-20% each term Ivy Tech has offered 8-week courses for many years Historically 10-15 percentage point higher pass rate than in 16-week courses Withdrawal rates are lower Asked former VCAA to research and write a white paper Growing trend nationally to offer more 8-week courses Course success higher nationally

  3. White Paper Findings Growing trend nationally to offer more 8-week courses Course success higher nationally and at Ivy Tech At Ivy Tech 8-week courses have lower withdrawal rates Approximately 10 percentage points lower in 8-week courses

  4. Benefits of 8-Week Courses Students Only take 1-3 classes at a time No more class time over 16-week term Avoids burnout, which typically occurs around week 10 More on ramps don t have to wait until next semester to start or retake a class Faculty Only teach 2-3 courses at a time Avoid burnout Longer class sessions increase opportunities to integrate active learning

  5. Intentional Process Findings presented to Cabinet and Executive Council in Nov./Dec. 2017 Faculty Council provided input and support in Nov. 2017 With fall registration opening in March 2018 campuses encouraged to increase offerings responsibly Added to Strategy 1.4 (educational pathways provide for continuous enrollment through completion) Visited Odessa College (2017 Aspen Prize finalist and Rising Star award winner) to learn best practices from a leading institution Summer 2018 added statewide co-leads and 80 campus champions During both 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years internal mini-grants were offered to support faculty/staff in the transition

  6. Completion Guides 1-20/21 sequence of courses for students to take Developed by curriculum committees Had existing semester plan as foundation Needed to evaluate for relevancy, sequence, and within 8-week structure Benefits to students Students have a clear pathway to completion Students always know what to take next, even if they stop out Reduces appearance of too many course options for students to consider, which can be overwhelming May provide opportunities to provide incentives for students who stay on track and are continuously enrolled

  7. Fall 2019 Update Fall 2019: More than half (58%) of all courses offered in 8-week format Second year utilizing 8-week champions to support campus leadership and 8- week transition Revised mini-grants to support campus collaboration Beginning to address need to provide support services in new and innovative ways On-going faculty/staff professional development becoming part of our culture % of Courses in 8-Week Format 70% 61% 58% 60% 50% 39% 40% 31% 30% 19% 18% 18% 20% 10% 0% Spring 2017 Fall 2017 Spring 2018 Fall 2018 Spring 2019 Fall 2019 Spring 2020

  8. Fall 2019 Grades Of the 14 core gateway courses when comparing 8-week vs. 16-week pass rates were 6 percentage points higher When comparing all 8-week vs. 16-week courses Withdraw rates (W grades) were 3.4 percentage points lower 8.4% vs. 5.0% FW rates (no longer attending class, but not officially withdrawn from the course) were 2.4 percentage points lower 10.1% vs. 7.7%

  9. Gateway Course Pass Rates Fall 2019 Standard 16-week Term 68.6% 65.5% 68.9% 72.3% 58.0% 70.2% 70.7% 55.2% 77.7% 64.0% 54.7% 66.1% 71.4% 73.2% 8-Week Courses First 8-week Term Second 8- week Term Fall 2018 8- Week vs. 16 Week 0.7% 10.4% 0.9% 6.1% 6.9% 6.8% 6.7% 10.9% 3.8% 1.8% 3.0% 10.1% 1.2% 6.0% ACCT101 APHY101 BIOL101 COMM101 ENGL111 HIST101 HLHS101 MATH023 MATH122 MATH123 MATH136 PSYC101 SOCI111 All Courses 71.3% 77.8% 74.5% 80.4% 69.4% 80.9% 80.8% 68.5% 81.1% 69.7% 59.6% 80.0% 76.4% 81.1% 62.6% 69.4% 65.1% 76.7% 59.8% 69.1% 73.6% 57.5% 81.9% 62.4% 56.0% 72.8% 69.5% 77.2% 69.3% 75.9% 69.8% 78.4% 64.9% 77.0% 77.4% 66.1% 81.5% 65.8% 57.7% 76.2% 72.6% 79.2%

  10. What Our Students Are Telling Us Richmond Medical Assisting students

  11. Next Steps Continue to share data widely each semester and create dialogue around its meaning Continue soliciting feedback from students and faculty on 8-week courses There is no set target on how many classes will be offered in 8-weeks Goal is to move every class that can be transitioned in a responsible way that is best for the student There are very solid reasons why some classes at best offered in a 16-week format Campuses asked to determine what those are At scale in Fall 2021

  12. Questions?

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