Ecology of Student Success at Michigan State University
Kristen A. Renn, PhDProfessor and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies/Director for Student Success Initiatives
December 11, 2014
Agenda
• Context• Ecology of Student Success• Teaching and Learning• MSU Neighborhood Engagement and
Student Success Initiatives
Context: MSU’s Opportunity Gap
Yr 4 Yr 5 Yr 60%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
2007 STEM* Freshman Cohort
Other MSU DegreesSTEM GraduatesCumulative
Graduation Percent
*DHS-ICE
National Average
FS07 SS08 FS08 SS09 FS09 SS10 & US10
FS10 SS11 & US11
FS11 SS12 & US12
FS12 SS13 & US13
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%2007 Cohort STEM* Persistence
Overall
Male
Female
URM
URM - Male
URM - Female
* DHS-ICE
Creating an Ecology of Student Success• Student is embedded in ecosystem
• Student System
• Learning, development, and success require increasing complexity/demands
• Different niches support different characteristics
STUDENTfriendship groups
roommate
Micro-system
academicclasses
jobMesosystem
Exosystem
Macrosystem
Parents’/spouses’
workplace
federalfin aidpolicy
faculty curric
comtee
cultural expectations
instl policy
makershistoricaltrends &
events
socialforces
Immigration/ naturalization
policy
Bronfenbrenner’s Model of Developmental Ecology (Renn & Arnold, 2003)
Academic Microsystems
STUDENTfriendship groups
roommate
Micro-system
Classroom
jobMesosystem
Exosystem
Macrosystem
parents’ or
spouses’ workplace
federalfin aidpolicy
faculty curric
comtee
cultural expectations
instl policy makers
historicaltrends &
events
socialforces
Immigration/ naturalization
policy
Teaching & Learning as Microsystem
Assignments
Classroom Norms
Syllabus
Course Structure Group Work Expectations & Norms
In-Class Activities
Civility
Collaborative & Cooperative Activities
Individual Activities
Forms of Address
Language
Assessments of Learning
Student Assessments of Teaching
Online Elements
Multiple Systems…
Physical
Organizational Learning
Organizational
Co-location of services• Academic advising• Tutoring in math,
chemistry, writing & economics
• Career planning• Health services &
health education• Leadership development• Housing, dining, fitness
and recreation• Intercultural education
Integrated Academic and Student Services• Student Support
Teams• Neighborhood Core
Teams• Pillars
- Residential- Health & Wellness
- Purpose & Devt- Intercultural- Academic
• Use data to inform real-time learning interventionsResearch & Assessment Promote Student Success
• Data generated in Neighborhoods, with campus partners, and by instructors
• Continuous improvement through evaluation• Create knowledge, test and diffuse innovations
Neighborhood Engagement Initiatives
• Spartan Success Scholars• Student Success Coaching Pilot• Nbhd Academic Engagement Program• Dow STEM Scholars Collaboration• Partnerships with Colleges (faculty,
advisors)• MAP-Works Early Warning System• TA Training• Assessment, Research, & Collaboration
• Segmentation, learning analytics
Goal: Create a Campus-Wide Ecosystem for Student Success through Organizational Transformation
• Cross-functional• Evidence-based• Experimental/Innovative• Empowering students, administrators,
faculty to try new ways of supporting success and creating equitable outcomes
