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

2. FIU Biology/Marine Biology  Fall 2014: 4,584 active majors  2006-2008 FTIC (n=877): -79% first-to-second year retention rate -56% graduation rate  2011-2013 FTIC (n=1,589) -81% first-to-second year retention rate

3. 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

4. Sample

5. 2006-2008 FTIC Biology: Distribution by High school GPA (W)

6. 2006-2008 FTIC Biology: One-Year Retention & HS GPA (W)

7. CategoryHS GPA Range HS GPA Constant Beta Coefficient LogitOdds Odds Probability Retention Rate Total (n) 1Less than 3.0Reference Group-27%44 23.00-3.24-0.9811.0760.0952.933075%52%84 33.25-3.49-0.9812.0391.0587.680088%74%97 43.50-3.74-0.9812.3871.40610.87792%80%193 53.75-3.99-0.9812.9501.96919.11195%88%147 64.00-4.24-0.9813.2662.28526.19696%91%184 74.25-4.49-0.9813.6722.69139.33398%94%63 84.50-5.50-0.9812.8531.87217.33395%87%60 Overall79%872 2006-2008 FTIC Biology: Logistic Regression

8. 2006-2008 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)

9. 2006-2008 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)

10. 2006-2008 FTIC Biology: HS GPA (W) and First-Year GPA

11. Retention Rate of Biology Students Retention Rate of Students who Passed Retention Rate of Students who Failed Coursen%n%n%Rate Difference SLS 150158779%56481%2349%32% ENC 110148178%44382%3851%31% ENC 110237581%33587%4051%36% CHM 104530780%20887%9968%19% CHM 1045L30580%26984%3661%23% PSY 202029379%25783%3662%21% BSC 101032882%27087%5864%23% BSC 1010L31382%24588%6864%24% BSC 101114785%10495%4368%27% MAC 110543378%23789%19669%20% Weighted Avg.-80%-87%-61%25% 2006-2008 FTIC Biology: Retention and Course Performance  Retention rate based on passing/failing common first-year courses:

12. MAC 1105 College Algebra BSC 1010 Gen. Biology I ENC 1101 Writing & Rhetoric I Grade Earnedn%n%n% A to B+ (4.00-3.33) 9985%23984%24767% B to B- (3.00-2.67) 6366%16467%7848% C+ to C (2.33-2.00) 7764%5350%2537% C- to D- (1.67-0.67) 3352%38%314% F (0.00) 2923%13%1 DR 4535%1026%5 2006-2008 FTIC Biology: Performance in Key First-Year Courses  Graduation rate based on grade earned in key course:

13. 2006-2008 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%3.32269 4915%2.97472318 NOT PASS14560%3.17596449640%2.81273237241

14. 2011-2013 FTIC Biology: Distribution by High school GPA (W)

15. 2006-2008 FTIC Biology: Distribution by High school GPA (W)

16. 2011-2013 FTIC Biology: One-Year Retention & HS GPA (W)

17. 2006-2008 FTIC Biology: One-Year Retention & HS GPA (W)

18. Odds Comparison between 2006-08 and 2011-13 2006-20082011-2013 HS GPA RangeOdds Odds Probability Retention RateOdds Odds Probability Retention Rate Less than 3.0--27%--62% 3.00-3.242.93375%52%1.32557%69% 3.25-3.497.6888%74%1.33357%69% 3.50-3.7410.87792%80%1.98366%77% 3.75-3.9919.11195%88%3.13776%84% 4.00-4.2426.19696%91%5.89685%91% 4.25-4.4939.33398%94%8.45889%93% 4.50-5.5017.33395%87%7.45188%93%

19. Retention and Course Performance 2006-20082011-2013 CourseRate Difference SLS 150132%27% ENC 110131%28% ENC 110236%23% CHM 104519%7% CHM 1045L23%17% PSY 202021%27% BSC 101023%26% BSC 1010L24%21% BSC 101127%6% MAC 110520%10% Weighted Avg.25%19% Difference in retention rate based on passing/failing common first-year courses:

20. 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

21. 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?