Using Data to Support Student Learning and Success

Spring Convening 2017

Friday, May 12, 2017
California State University, Fresno

Why focus on data to support student learning?

Campuses across the country and within the CSU are using data in new ways to understand where students are facing challenges and how institutions can better support student learning, engagement, progression, and completion.

These approaches, including predictive analytics, hold promise for students. However, they also have the potential to exacerbate inequities if they are not implemented in thoughtful and appropriate ways. This meeting provides an opportunity to explore this topic through cross-campus, cross-role dialogue.

Intended learning outcomes:

Participants:

  • Built relationships with CSU colleagues who are involved in campus-level efforts to strengthen data use to improve student success and equity.
  • Identified and shared current successes and challenges related to using data.
  • Reflected as campus teams and apply lessons to individual campus needs and contexts.
  • Create a plan to strengthen ongoing efforts on their respective campuses.

Participating campuses:

  • East Bay
  • Fresno
  • Fullerton
  • Humboldt
  • Long Beach
  • Maritime
  • Sacramento
  • San Luis Obispo
  • San Marcos

A Two-Way Street: Building a Culture of Data Use by Engaging with Faculty and Staff

In May 2017, the CSU Student Success Network convened, and Fresno State hosted, a one-day meeting focused on data use. The convening drew participation from teams of faculty and staff from ten CSU campuses. Afterwards, the team from CSU San Marcos (CSUSM) decided to create a data fellows program to improve their campus’ capacity to use data in decision-making. This is their story of why—and how—they created their program.

How “Small Data” Can Address the Limitations of Predictive Analytics

Inspired by the CSU Student Success Network’s May convening on data use in the CSU, Ioakim Boutakidis, Associate Professor of Child & Adolescent Studies and Faculty Fellow of Student Success at CSU Fullerton, writes about the “small data” strategies his campus has developed to improve student learning.