What Should Student Success Outcomes Mean to Us?
I will be one of the first ones to tell you that student outcomes matter, but with an increasingly narrow focus on them, is higher education missing the bigger picture in defining graduates’ success? Based on the 27/73% split in the statistic above and how institutions are required to report outcomes, I am not a “success”.
A Failure on Metrics
When we only look to numbers to define value, we miss how success should truly be measured. Higher education has a unique opportunity. It takes only one institution to understand that students are people. People who need support, encouragement, and just one chance to enter an educational institution without the fear of failure or crushing debt.
The One About Higher Education
It is a fact that an educated society is better than an uneducated society. As humans, we have to work to overcome our faults. We have to look past the numbers and see the people. We have to scale the obstacles and see the opportunities. We have to avoid roadblocks and create paths toward progress. We have to dispel negativity and gently nudge people forward.
You Can't Measure Heart
Let’s pay attention to trends, use predictive analytics, embrace big data, but never forget the focus is on students first.
The Ghosts of Higher Education
Not everyone in higher education holds the clout necessary to make decisions that could instantly change and improve the U.S. education system, but change doesn’t have to start big Sometimes it’s as simple as serving students well, removing unnecessary barriers, offering quality educational options, or getting involved in national and state policy-making efforts.
No Easy Button
Student success should be the result of individual ability to learn, which can only happen if they know how to navigate the complexity of college admissions and make it to the classroom. It is not a level playing field if not everyone can get there.