Challenges in Curriculum Adaptation across Institutions of Higher Education: Similarities between International and National Student Transfer R. Kempter, C. Furse, N. Cotter (University of Utah) N. Safai, L. Brinton (Salt Lake Community College)
Dec 22, 2015
Challenges in Curriculum Adaptation across Institutions of Higher Education:
Similarities between International and National Student Transfer
R. Kempter, C. Furse, N. Cotter (University of Utah)N. Safai, L. Brinton (Salt Lake Community College)
What is the Problem?
• Majority of the undergraduate students in UofU ECE transfer from nearby 2 year schools.
• Courses and grading may or may not be identical.
Question:
What is the best policy for admitting undergraduate transfer students?
Are Courses & Grades Equal?
=
?
4 year programs
2 year programs
=
?
=?
=?
=
?=
?
=?
Concurrent HS
program:
“Lead the Way”
=?
Are Courses & Grades Equal?
=
!
4 year programs
2 year programs
=
!
=!
=!
=
!=
!
=!
Utah Legislature:“They MUST be!”
Concurrent HS
program:
“Lead the Way”
=!
Today’s Undergrad Transfer Procedures
GPA> 2.8↓
9 credit hours
BAB
2nd year grades
4th year grades
2nd year grades
4th year grades
B+B+B
BAB
• Credits transfer, Grades do not
• Admission to Major status in ECE in sophomore year:
GPA>2.8, up to a max of 75 students/year
Transfer Procedures: Issues
2nd year grades
4th year grades
B+B+B
BAB
GPA= 2.81
9 credit hours
BAB
2nd year grades
4th year grades
Case 1: Transfer student has lower 2nd year GPA than UofU student
2nd year GPA = 3.16 2nd year GPA = 2.81
Graduation GPA = 3.1 Graduation GPA = 3.33
AAA
Transfer Procedures: Issues
2nd year grades
4th year grades
AAA
BAB
BAB
2nd year GPA = 4.0 2nd year GPA = 4.0
2nd year grades
4th year grades
Case 2: Top students with high 2nd year GPAs
What if there’s grade inflation between UofU and transfer Institution?
But
Graduation GPA = 3.66 Graduation GPA = 3.33
Transfer Procedures: Issues
Case 3: Assume grade inflation is involved
2nd year GPA = 2.5<2.8
2nd year grades
ECE 1000: B-ECE 2270: B-ECE 2000: C
2nd year GPA = 3.66>2.8
2nd year grades
ECE 1000: A-ECE 2270: A-ECE 2000: B+
Tracking the Individual Student
GPA at unaccredited institution
Range of grades at unaccredited institution
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
GP
A
GPA at Graduation from UoU
Range of grades from UofU
Student• 24/67 students: 0 transfers• 43/67 students transferred
an average of 3.37 classes
ECE Undergraduate Student Performance
35/43 T students GPA ↓
8/43 T students GPA ↑
Grade inflation, UofU students disadvantage
2 year colleges
Academic performance may be lower
Reasons for Transfer
4 year colleges
Freshmen competitively selected
= =
All of these indicate risk-factors for lower academic performance
Result of transfer
“Classic” grading on a curve cannot be used as a performance estimator between different groups!
Result:Difference in student demographics leads to different student performance statistics.
Probation for Transfer students prior to admission to major status
Current “Solution”
Pros: academic standards are maintainedCons: possibly unfair, singles out transfer
students, unpopular with good students
Possible solutions
Sounds familiar?Not a novel situation, common situation in especially international graduate student transfer.
There we have:• Very different academic performance spectra
• Tuition levels vary greatly, students may be more or less motivated (amount/time)
• Greatly varying academic climate
• Standardized tests (TOEFL, GRE…)• GPA and school history • Permanent performance monitoring, GPA>3.0• International advisor, mandatory
How cope?
Possible Undergrad Solutions: The Future
Constant performance monitoring and mandatory advisor as for international graduate students?→ proven effective, good results!
Standardized state-wide pre-ECE test, something like the SAT?
Common exam before admission to ECE major status for all students?
Conclusion
• We investigated national student transfer on the undergraduate level
• Different student demographics lead to measurably different student performance statistics:→ Grading on a curve problematic
• U of U accepts credits but not grades:
- Grade inflation, UofU students are at disadvantage (75 max/year, GPA>2.8)
: disadvantage at Graduation
Good students
-
: advantage at Graduation
Dull students
-
Conclusion: Ways to Cope
• Future?
- Standardized tests such as SAT, GRE
- Common exam before major status in ECE
- Constant performance monitoring for undergraduates, → same as for international graduate students
- Mandatory undergraduate advisor
Currently: transfer students are put on probation•
Pros: academic standards are maintainedCons: unfair, singles out transfer students
Conclusion: Ways to Cope
if undergraduate_student_transfer == 1grading=standardized
end
Curriculum development has to be harmonized across institutions!
Questions ?
Roland Kempter, Dr. Cynthia FurseElectrical and Computer Engineering, University of [email protected], [email protected]