At Colorado Technical University (CTU), Academic & Career Success is the first course students take on their educational journey. This course has seen an increase in course completion that continues to hold steady. We will explore the high-impact practices and partnerships cultivated at CTU, both within and outside the classroom.
At Colorado Technical University, Academic & Career Success (UNIV104) is the first course students take in their program of study when they begin their online educational journey to earn an undergraduate degree. Undergraduate courses at Colorado Technical University move quickly – our sessions are five weeks long. All students begin with this same first course, Academic & Career Success, which serves as a foundational course intended to help students achieve personal, professional, and academic success within their online program.
The success of this first online course impacts student graduation, retention, and persistence rates across our university, which primarily serves online adult learners. Student success in this course translates into success for our university overall. As an open enrollment institution granting both associate and bachelor degrees online, there are an average of 2400 students enrolled and on track to complete the course each 5-week session. With such a large number of students, there are diverse needs that require support from across the institution. Our students require all hands on deck to support a successful transition to academic life within an online world.
Over the past two years, Academic & Career Success has seen an increase in course completion and persistence rates; that success continues to hold steady. Since the beginning of 2021, the average course completion rate for Academic & Career Success has climbed substantially and has held steady for the last five sessions. The course persistence rate from Academic & Career Success to students’ second session classes has also steadily increased over the past two years. Again, this rate has held steady for the last five sessions and shows that students are acquiring the skills needed to move forward in their degree journey. The success of Academic & Career Success has translated into success across Colorado Technical University!
There are many contributors to the success of our students in Academic & Career Success, which will be the focus of this session. For students to succeed in this course, it truly takes the work of many – it takes an institution! The success of this course can be credited to many, from the highest levels of leadership at the university to our adjuncts teaching the course and student success coaches providing regular support.
In this session, we will explore the high-impact practices and partnerships cultivated at Colorado Technical College, both within and outside the classroom, which have led to a success story for the university. Participants will also have opportunities to share their own high-impact practices that have led to student success, in any capacity, at their institution.