Student Persistence Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Wally Boston

Higher Ed: For Students, the Sum of the Parts May Be Greater than the Whole

January 5, 2017 Wally Boston

It’s common knowledge among those of us researching student retention in online higher education that swirling (attendance by a student at multiple institutions) is much more prevalent with online, than on-ground, programs. Some of the explanations offered include that it’s easier to switch from one online program to another and there’s less social integration among online students so less social stigma in leaving. Others posit that online students are much more savvy about reviewing courses at multiple institutions to enable them to build a richer collection of courses. Lastly, some note that the more frequent semester starts offered by online institutions makes it more conducive for students switching schools to accommodate their personal and work schedules, and to finish their program sooner.

Jeff Selingo Life after College book cover

Book Reviews

There Is Life after College

June 1, 2016 Wally Boston

Jeff Selingo, author of College (Un)bound, recently released his latest book, a primer for parents of college-aged children. He maintains that today’s teenagers and young adults have many challenges ahead of them after college graduation and that it’s appropriate to start thinking about how to manage your career as soon as you finish high school. Selingo notes that the education system is out of sync with the economy and that college is a platform for lifelong learning that we will leave and return to whenever we need further education and training to get ahead in our existing job or to switch careers.

Access and Affordability

Graduation Gap Wider than Enrollment Gap for the Poor

June 4, 2015 Wally Boston

Susan Dynarski’s June 2 article in The New York Times elicited more than a few tweets. Dr. Dynarski, a professor of education, public policy and economics at the University of Michigan, wrote about a project called the Education Longitudinal Study that began tracking 15,000 high school sophomores in 2002. Last month, the researchers updated their educational attainment data for those sophomores and issued a report.

American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment

Guest Post: Personalization and Respect Central to Creating Value for Non-Traditional Students

May 1, 2015 Wally Boston

APUS is dedicated to implementing best practices and programs for our students that support their academic and personal success. In this guest post, Caroline Simpson, APUS assistant provost of student services, shares her thoughts on personalization of service, transparency of options, and various support practice benefits.

*Snippet from Evolllution

Non-traditional students expect a level of service from institutions that is, frankly, foreign to many higher education leaders.

Student Persistence

A Research Project Often Cited

February 6, 2015 Wally Boston

In many research papers reporting on the persistence of adult students, authors cite a Department of Education Study that reports several risk factors that may influence a non-traditional student’s persistence in college. The study, commissioned by the Department of Education and entitled Profile of Undergraduates in U.S. Postsecondary Institutions: 1992-1993, was authored by Laura Horn and Mark D.

Online Education

The Summit for Online Leadership and Strategy

January 28, 2015 Wally Boston

Last week, I attended the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) and American Council on Education (ACE) Summit for Online Leadership and Strategy in San Antonio. Less than two years ago, I was asked to serve on the UPCEA Center for Online Leadership and Strategy Advisory Council. Part of the Center’s role was to plan the first summit that took place in San Diego last year.

Online Education

Exploring Institution-to-Institution Student Swirling Patterns

November 3, 2014 Wally Boston

On October 30, my colleagues Dr. Phil Ice, vice president of research and development, Dr. Melissa Layne, director of research methodology, and I presented a research paper at the Online Learning Consortium (formerly Sloan Consortium) annual conference in Orlando, FL. The research was conducted utilizing data submitted to the National Student Clearinghouse as well as the outcomes and analysis of the Clearinghouse data as compared to our data.

Learning Outcomes Assessment

Tracking Key Education Trends on a Late Summer Day

October 15, 2014 Wally Boston

By Jeffrey McCafferty, Associate Vice President, Strategic Planning at the American Public University System

Late summer and early autumn is one of my favorite times to visit New York City. The weather is warm, people are bustling, and there is a sense of starting anew as summer vacations have concluded and all are back to work.

Online Disruption, MOOC Mania, and Change in Higher Education – How Crazy (or Bad) Will it Get?

June 10, 2013 Wally Boston

(keynote delivered at the Distance Learning Administration Conference on June 5, 2013)

I began writing this speech nearly three months ago. A week and a half ago, I wrapped it up and thought I had better run through it one last time in case any new educational technology had been released that I needed to discuss today.

Celebrating Innovation in Education at the 2013 Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition

May 15, 2013 Wally Boston

Pictured are (from left): Dr. Wallace E. Boston (President, American Public University System), Jill Frankfort (Persistence Plus), Dean Andy Porter (Penn GSE), and Gregory Milken (Milken Family Foundation).

Last week, the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education and the Milken Family Foundation hosted the fourth annual Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition. The competition website explains that “there is an urgent need to find ways to reach and educate every person” while also noting that “The United States is the largest exporter of education in the world, and education is our country’s fifth largest export.”