To: Faculty and Professional Faculty
From: Alix Gitelman, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Date: October 22, 2024
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to share information about a tool for supporting undergraduate student success. The university piloted the tool during summer term, and it is active now. Among advisors who participated in the pilot there was enthusiastic support for the tool as it provides the first broad-scale leading indicator for undergraduate student success we have had at OSU. With the information (described below) made available by this tool, advisors can connect with students who may need help, and as needed, direct them to academic or other support resources.
In collaboration with University Information and Technology, the Office of the Registrar expanded a report originally developed years ago to support student athletes. The report uses both student data (like name, ID, GPA, and major) and course-level data (like course ID, credits, and Canvas course/section data), to assign a “concern level” for every student in every class, provided the Canvas gradebook information for the class is up to date. Concern level is color coded, with red indicating a high level of concern, and two other colors (yellow and grey) indicating lower levels of concern.
Concern level is recorded for a student in a class according to how the student’s cumulative performance (as recorded in the Canvas gradebook) compares with the average cumulative performance of all students in the class. Performance 15% or more below the class average is coded as red, performance 5% or more above the class average is recorded as grey and all other performance levels are recorded as yellow. By recording comparative performance, the tool accounts for the variability in how instructors enter grades. If a student’s performance appears low because the instructor has not entered grades for some assignments, this will be reflected in comparison with the rest of the class. But if a student’s performance appears low and the class average is high, it may indicate the student is struggling.
Undergraduate associate deans and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee previewed this tool and recognize the value it brings for identifying struggling students. This leading indicator tool will support students best when you keep your Canvas gradebook(s) up to date. I know that not all courses are necessarily conductive to incorporating graded assignments but as feasible, I urge you to keep your Canvas gradebooks current so the tool can support as many students as possible.
If you have questions or you would like more information, please reach out to Rebecca Mathern in the Office of the Registrar.
Best,
Alix Gitelman, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs