The Completion Agenda: Something Better Than in the Middle Rusty Monhollon, Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs Missouri Department of Higher Education 2016 MCCA Trustee and Administrative Professionals Spring Conference Columbia, Missouri

Stuck in the Middle In almost every measure of educational performance, Missouri is somewhere in the middle

The Big Goal 60 percent with high-quality credentials by – degrees and certificates that provide clear pathways to further education and employment 2016: 50.6 percent 38.1 percent with associate degree or higher 12.5 percent with certificate.

Why increase educational attainment? Demands of knowledge-based society Improve the human condition Economic growth Civic engagement Reduce the costs of crime, poverty, health care Close the “attainment gap”

How do we get there? It is my wish that this be the most educated country in the world, and toward that end I hereby ordain that each and every one of my people be given a diploma.

“ Back where I come from, we have universities, seats of great learning, where men go to become great thinkers. And when they come out, they think deep thoughts and with no more brains than you have. But they have one thing you haven't got: a diploma.” How do we get there?

Really, how will we achieve the Big Goal? By focusing on three areas: 1.Students are academically prepared and ready for postsecondary education. 2.Reducing time to completion. 3.Assure academic rigor and quality.

HB 1042 (2012) Core Transfer Library – SB 997 (2016): Codifies current practice and policy Reverse transfer – Missouri has 747,000 working-age adults have attended college but don’t have a degree. Best practices in developmental education

Principles of Best Practice in Remedial Education Policy umbrella under which institutions can meet students’ needs – Curricular alignment – Early assessment in high school – Seamless transition from remedial-college coursework – Assess basic skills of all students – Accurate placement using multiple measures – Complete gateway courses as quickly as possible – Gateway courses aligned with academic course of study – Alternative delivery methods 9

Readiness College readiness – content knowledge; maturity; self-discipline; perseverance; habits of mind such as problem solving, and the ability to observe, listen, and speak College-content readiness – Level of preparation/knowledge required, without the need for remediation, to complete entry-level courses at a level of understanding and proficiency that prepares the student for subsequent courses Career Readiness – Level of preparation to proceed to the next step in a chosen career

Corequisite at Scale complete college-level gateway math and/or English courses within one academic year – single semester corequisite – one-year course pathway – math pathways models

Math Pathways Differentiated gateway math courses: instruction in math skills needed for success in program of study. – STEM – Quantitative Reasoning – Statistics – Elementary Education Gateway math courses – Outlined in an academic map and included in degree plans for students. Fully articulated for transfer into programs of study Academic support focused on skills essential for gateway course Gateway course math content as a co-requisite Support to make well-informed decisions about goals Advising for correct placement 12

What is the “right math”? Dunbar, S Enrollment flow to and from courses below calculus. In A Fresh State for Collegiate mathematics: Rethinking the Courses below calculus, N.B. Hastings et al. (Eds.). Washington DC: MAA Notes, Mathematical Association of America. 13

SB 997 Student Web Portal – Single site for students to access information about financial aid and transfer Dual Credit Certification/Scholarships – Assure the integrity and quality of dual credit programs. 15 to Finish – Promote on-time completion of degree programs Guided Pathways to Success – Specify clear curricular paths to a degree (degree maps) Concurrent Enrollment – provide a broader range of academic and student support services while streamlining path to completion Core Curriculum Transfer Act – 42-hour block – Advisory board

An Opportunity for Something Better than “In the Middle”