Predicting Academic Success: Biology Students at FIU Danilo Le Sante Florida International University

FIU Biology/Marine Biology  Fall 2014: 4,584 active majors  FTIC (n=877): -79% first-to-second year retention rate -56% graduation rate  FTIC (n=1,589) -81% first-to-second year retention rate

Overview How can we improve the success of First-Time in College Biology students? Distribution Academic profile Course performance Retention & Graduation Key predictors Comparative analysis

Sample

FTIC Biology: Distribution by High school GPA (W)

FTIC Biology: One-Year Retention & HS GPA (W)

CategoryHS GPA Range HS GPA Constant Beta Coefficient LogitOdds Odds Probability Retention Rate Total (n) 1Less than 3.0Reference Group-27% %52% %74% %80% %88% %91% %94% %87%60 Overall79% FTIC Biology: Logistic Regression

FTIC Biology: Graduation Rate by Retention and HS GPA (W)  Graduation Rate of Retained Students: - HS GPA (W) less than 3.75: 39% (n=126) - HS GPA (W) 3.75 or higher: 82% (n=301)  Graduation Rate of Students not Retained (first-year): - HS GPA (W) less than 3.75: 12% (n=12) - HS GPA (W) 3.75 or higher: 64% (n=54)

FTIC Biology: Other Findings  First Term GPA  Graduation Rate of Retained Students: - First term GPA less than 3.25: 44% (n=162) - First term GPA 3.25 or higher: 82% (n=301)  First-year GPA  Graduation Rate of Retained Students: - First-year GPA less than 3.00: 36% (n=104) - First-year GPA 3.00 or higher: 80% (n=324)

FTIC Biology: HS GPA (W) and First-Year GPA

Retention Rate of Biology Students Retention Rate of Students who Passed Retention Rate of Students who Failed Coursen%n%n%Rate Difference SLS %56481%2349%32% ENC %44382%3851%31% ENC %33587%4051%36% CHM %20887%9968%19% CHM 1045L30580%26984%3661%23% PSY %25783%3662%21% BSC %27087%5864%23% BSC 1010L31382%24588%6864%24% BSC %10495%4368%27% MAC %23789%19669%20% Weighted Avg.-80%-87%-61%25% FTIC Biology: Retention and Course Performance  Retention rate based on passing/failing common first-year courses:

MAC 1105 College Algebra BSC 1010 Gen. Biology I ENC 1101 Writing & Rhetoric I Grade Earnedn%n%n% A to B+ ( ) 9985%23984%24767% B to B- ( ) 6366%16467%7848% C+ to C ( ) 7764%5350%2537% C- to D- ( ) 3352%38%314% F (0.00) 2923%13%1 DR 4535%1026% FTIC Biology: Performance in Key First-Year Courses  Graduation rate based on grade earned in key course:

FTIC Biology: Performance in Post-First-Year Courses  Number of course attempts in relation to graduation  Example: GraduatedDid not Graduate On-Time Class First Attempt n% First-Year GPA 1 Att2 Att3+ Attn% First-Year GPA 1 Att2 Att3+ AttTotal MAC 2311 Calculus I PASS26985% % NOT PASS14560% %

FTIC Biology: Distribution by High school GPA (W)

FTIC Biology: Distribution by High school GPA (W)

FTIC Biology: One-Year Retention & HS GPA (W)

FTIC Biology: One-Year Retention & HS GPA (W)

Odds Comparison between and HS GPA RangeOdds Odds Probability Retention RateOdds Odds Probability Retention Rate Less than %--62% %52% %69% %74% %69% %80% %77% %88% %84% %91% %91% %94% %93% %87% %93%

Retention and Course Performance CourseRate Difference SLS %27% ENC %28% ENC %23% CHM %7% CHM 1045L23%17% PSY %27% BSC %26% BSC 1010L24%21% BSC %6% MAC %10% Weighted Avg.25%19% Difference in retention rate based on passing/failing common first-year courses:

Key Findings  High School GPA (weighted) was a strong predictor of retention  HS GPA (W) was correlated with first-year GPA at FIU  Graduation rate was affected by HS, first term, and first year GPA  Performance in gateway courses affected retention and graduation rates

Recommendations  Disseminate information to faculty and staff  GPA requirement?  Monitor course performance  Implement a “BA” track  Additional support (i.e. tutoring, learning assistants)  Collaboration with Chemistry department  Behavioral assessment?