Clarion’s institutional research team wanted to understand what factors enable students to succeed at Clarion.
Clarion’s institutional research team wanted to understand what factors enable students to succeed at Clarion.
Ray Moneta, Director of Information Management and Institutional Research, is responsible for submitting Clarion University’s (Clarion) institutional data and mandatory compliance reporting to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and the federal government. In need of manpower to tackle all of Clarion’s research requests, Moneta partnered with Hanover for additional support.
Clarion’s priority is to retain top student talent. To improve retention, Moneta’s institutional research team wanted to understand what factors enable students to succeed at Clarion. He commissioned Hanover to track the institution’s newest freshman cohort, emphasizing minority and first-generation college populations.
Hanover analyzed Clarion’s student data from 2006 through 2011 to assess which demographic, institutional, and academic variables were the most useful predictors of four-year and five-year graduation and second-, third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-year retention. Analysts developed multiple analytical models that assessed retention factors, predictors of conditional retention, and the likelihood of on-time graduation.
Hanover determined that a student’s high school ranking is a strong predictor of retention and graduation. As such, Clarion should strive to improve these student success metrics by increasing its admission rates of higher-ranked students. Additional report findings regarding Clarion’s historical retention trends and the specific student qualities that may be predictive of retention and on-time graduation are outlined below.
5%
The increase in Clarion’s freshman and sophomore retention rates when additional support was provided to at-risk students
Moneta and Clarion’s administrators discussed the report when evaluating the institution’s current and historical challenges for ensuring retention and encouraging graduation. After reviewing the data, Clarion’s administrators identified current service gaps and created new programs to target at-risk student populations better. Administrators implemented several retention-focused initiatives, including:
With Hanover’s support, Moneta and his lean team have become more effective in fulfilling the data requests of Clarion’s President, Provost, other university departments, and the PASSHE Chancellor. Moneta stated:
“Hanover helps our team learn how our practices can be enhanced. Through the research, we are able to take action and make the right choices for our institution.”
Ray Moneta
Director of Information Management and Institutional Research
Clarion is also assessing the viability of new credentials of interest, as well as degree programs that might need to be re-evaluated following market trends. During the institution’s year-long, fixed-fee partnership engagement, Moneta has tasked Hanover to perform market evaluations, program demand analyses, and workforce demand studies. After taking Hanover’s report on student demand and the labor market outlook for engineering degrees into consideration when expanding its current program portfolio, the institution plans to move forward with two new engineering credentials.
Clarion University will continue to apply Hanover’s research when supporting the success of its current students and when making critical internal decisions regarding future program expansion initiatives.
Clarion University of Pennsylvania is a public institution that was founded in 1867.
Information Management and Institutional Research Department
Data analysis and qualitative research
Program-specific analyses into your areas of interest, your Hanover team helps you contextualize program viability through market factors like the competitive landscape and job opening trends.
Examines critical elements of new academic program viability (student demand, labor market demand, and market saturation) to quantify the feasibility of a degree program offering.
Uses interviews with employers and industry experts to uncover skill gaps, labor market trends, and employer perceptions of your institution to help shape an academic program portfolio that is in line with employer needs.
Solutions
Expertise
Research & Insights
About Us
Receive industry-leading insights directly in your inbox.
If you have difficulty accessing any part of this website or the products or services offered by Hanover Research, please contact us at info@hanoverresearch.com for support.
Access the best custom research to help hit your organization’s goals. Request your custom consult below and a member of our team will be in touch.
Have questions? Please visit our contact page.
Our newsletters are packed with helpful tips, industry guides, best practices, case studies, and more. Enter your email address below to opt in: