Wright State to take part in degree-attainment study in partnership with Stellic

Wright State will work with Stellic to improve student outcomes and increase opportunities for students from underrepresented groups.

Wright State University is one of two universities in the nation selected to take part in a study funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation designed to advance degree attainment by students from minority and low-income populations.

As part of its goal to expand educational opportunities, the charitable foundation awarded a grant to conduct the study to Stellic Inc., which provides education planning and degree-management tools.

Stellic selected Wright State and Lehman College of the City University of New York as partners to work with on the project. The overall goal is to improve student outcomes and increase opportunities for underrepresented students by ensuring that race, ethnicity and income are not predictors of college success.

The project will begin with process mapping to look at ways to improve the student and advisor experience when it comes to degree progress by identifying obstacles and administrative constraints. It will dive into how students plan, register for classes and track course progression on the way to graduation.

Beginning in the spring, Stellic plans to conduct focus groups with between 25 and 30 Wright State students in 15 sessions each lasting 90 minutes and with about 10 advisors in 60-minute sessions. Stellic will also interview Office of the Registrar staff, CaTS staff and other administrative staff.

Tim Littell, associate vice provost for student success, said Stellic will look for gaps in the enrollment and advising process.

“It certainly will help us understand our systems better,” said Littell. “Where are the holes in the system and how do we fill them through that lens of equity?”

Littell said Stellic will use a targeted universalist approach so that what is learned in the focus groups can also help other colleges and universities.

Wright State, which will receive a grant to assist in the project, will then help write a technical white paper on the findings that will be shared with other colleges and universities. That should generate feedback and enable Wright State to learn about the systems at other institutions.

“The idea is to build on this for the whole higher education enterprise,” Littell said.

He said Wright State could also benefit if the Gates Foundation then decides to fund solutions.

“If they see an opportunity to help fix it, then we can become an exemplar for that,” Littell said.