Sam Houston State University (SHSU) identifies, evaluates, and publishes [1] goals and outcomes for student achievement appropriate to the institution’s mission [2], the nature of the students the institution serves, and the kinds of programs the institution offers. Further, SHSU employs multiple measures to evaluate student success for these goals and outcomes. These efforts to evaluate student achievement complement the more granular, unit-level assessment of Education Programs (see Standard 8.2.a), Academic and Student Services units (see Standard 8.2.c), and Administrative Effectiveness Units (see Standard 7.3), as well as assessment of general education outcomes for students (see Standard 8.2.b). The University uses data from all of these processes, particularly when targets for student success are not met, as part of larger strategic and operational planning efforts (see Standard 7.1) and to develop actions for improving operations across the University for continued student success.
SHSU’s undergraduate profile is identified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as being a 4-year, full-time, selective, higher transfer-in institution [3]. Furthermore, SHSU has historically attracted a high percentage of at-risk students as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). With this student profile in mind, SHSU has established multiple goals and outcomes for student achievement at the University, which are evaluated using different criteria and targets for success. To help ensure their relevance and appropriateness, criteria and targets reflect existing and accepted institutional metrics and data. Some student achievement outcomes are mandatory to report for SHSU and all other public institutions in the State of Texas as part of the THECB’s Accountability System [4]. Within this system of accountability, universities are categorized into peer groups based on general academic mission and certain key academic indicators, such as size and number of graduate programs, research expenditures, and other factors [5]. Within the accountability system, SHSU is classified as a Doctoral University [6]. Other student achievement outcomes are reported by SHSU annually to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) [7], gathered and reported annually by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to the institutional community [8], or reported for specific program licensing requirements [9] [10].
When possible, targets were set in reference to external requirements or benchmarks. For example, Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 229, Rule 229.4 requires minimum passage rates for the Teacher Certification Exam, although the institution has locally set a target that is higher than what is currently required by State statute. When external requirements or benchmarks were not available, local benchmarks were established using relevant trend or comparative data. These data are reviewed and updated annually by the University. During the late summer/fall semesters, University staff conduct a review of the most recently available student achievement data (typically from the previous fall semester). The data reported here represent the findings from the most recent review of SHSU’s student achievement goals and outcomes. A review of 2017 student achievement data is currently underway, with an updated report due to the University community in Fall 2018. The goals, outcomes, criteria, targets for success, and achievement data used by SHSU to evaluate student achievement are available online [1], but a summary is provided here for the convenience of the reviewer.
Goal I: Promote Growth, Diversity, and Equity Within the SHSU Student Body |
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Outcome A: Continue to Grow the SHSU Student Body Criterion 1: 1-year % Change in University Enrollment, Tracked Annually |
Target: 3% Annual Growth in Overall University Enrollment | University enrollment is regularly tracked and reported by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Data for this outcome were derived from the Fall 2016 Institutional Fact Book [8]. From Fall 2015 to Fall 2016, total student enrollment increased 2.23%, from 20,031 students to 20,477. This percentage increase did not meet the target of a 3% but still represented healthy institutional growth. |
Outcome B: Promote Diversity Within Undergraduate and Graduate Populations Criterion 2: 1-year % Change in Undergraduate and Graduate Student Enrollment Totals by Race, Tracked Annually |
Target: Minority Student Enrollment Will Increase from Year-to-Year | University enrollment, by race, is regularly tracked and reported by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Criteria data for this outcome were derived from the Fall 2016 Institutional Fact Book [8]. The targets for this outcome were partially met. From fall 2015 to fall 2016, undergraduate enrollments for minority students (Black, American Indian, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander) were flat or increased. For graduate students, enrollments of African American and American Indian students decreased, while enrollments of Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander Students increased. |
Outcome C: Promote Equity in Undergraduate and Graduate Enrollment Criterion 3: Longitudinal Comparisons of Percentage of Minority Student Enrollment, Tracked Annually |
Target: The University will Continue to Close Gaps in Minority Enrollment in Comparison to White Students | University enrollment, by race, is regularly tracked and reported by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Criteria data for this outcome were derived from the Fall 2016 Institutional Fact Book [8]. The target for this outcome was met. From fall 2014 to fall 2016, the gap between White and non-White undergraduate student enrollment closed from 8% in fall 2014 (54% White to 46% non-White) to 2.73% (51.30% White to 48.7% non-White). Gains, though smaller, were seen for graduate students, with the gap between White and non-White graduate student enrollment closing from 18.44% in fall 2014 (59.22% White to 40.48% non-White) to 15.38% in fall 2016 (57.79% White to 42.41% to non-White). A detailed breakdown of student enrollment percentages, by race, are provided here [11]. |
Goal II: Promote Student Success Within the University Environment |
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Outcome D: Promote Student Retention and Completion Criterion 4: Comparisons of Overall Persistence/Retention Rate of All Freshman Students After One Academic Year |
Target: 79% of Students Will Persist/Be Retained After One Academic Year | Overall persistence/retention of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates is tracked and reported regularly to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness [7]. The target for this criterion was not met for fiscal year (FY) 2017, with the overall 1-year persistence/retention rates for freshman students standing at 77%. Although the target was not met, this rate exceeded the average rate for the Texas State University System (74.7%), the THECB Accountability Comparison group (70.5%), and is on par with the overall average for public institutions in the state of Texas (77.9%). |
Outcome D: Promote Student Retention and Completion Criterion 5: Comparisons of Overall Persistence/Retention Rate of Freshman Students When Compared by Race |
Target: 79% of Minority Students Will Persist After One Academic Year | Overall persistence/retention of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates is tracked and reported regularly to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness [7]. The target for this criterion was not met for FY 2017, with the persistence/retention rates for Hispanics and Blacks falling below 79%. Disaggregated data were not available for other individual racial groups. The persistence rate for Black students (78%) approached the target, and equaled that of White students (78%); however, the persistence rate for Hispanic students lagged further behind at 75%. |
Outcome D: Promote Student Retention and Completion Criterion 6: Percentage of Semester Credit Hours (SCH) Completed |
Target: Students will Successfully Complete 96% of SCH | Successful completion of SCH is tracked and reported regularly to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness [7]. For FY 2017, SHSU students achieved the target of completing 96% of SCH. Additionally, this rate represents an increase in SCH completion over each of the last five academic years (FY 2012 – 94%, FY 2013 – 95%, FY 2014 – 94%, FY 2015 – 95%, FY 2016 – 95%). |
Outcome E: Promote Success of At-Risk Students Criterion 7: Percentage of Underprepared Students Who Satisfy Their Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Math, Reading, and Writing Obligations Within Two Years |
Target: The Percentage of Underprepared Students Satisfying Their TSI Math, Reading, and Writing Obligations Within Two Years Will Exceed State and Doctoral Comparison Group Averages | Data regarding student completion of TSI requirements within two years are gathered from the THECB Accountability System and are available through this system for the last three student cohorts (2012, 2013, 2014). This target has been met. For each of the last three cohorts, SHSU students exceeded the average Math, Reading, and Writing TSI completion rates when compared to other students in public institutions in Texas, as well as the average rate for SHSU’s Doctoral Comparison Group. A detailed breakdown of student TSI completion rates is provided [12]. |
Goal III: Successfully Graduate Students Who Are Prepared for Post-Graduation Success |
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Outcome F: Promote Timely Student Graduation Criterion 8: Percentage of First-Time, Full-Time, Degree-Seeking Undergraduates Who Earn a Baccalaureate Degree Within Four Years of Their Entrance as Undergraduates |
Target: 30% of Students Will Graduate in Four Years | The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates who earn a baccalaureate degree within four years is gathered and reported to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness [7]. For FY 2017, the graduation rate for the 2013 entering cohort was 33%, exceeding the set target. Additionally, this rate exceeded that of SHSU’s Doctoral Comparison Group (22.4%) and was similar to that for other students in public Texas universities (33.6%). This strongly indicates that SHSU is experiencing success in graduating students in four years. |
Outcome F: Promote Timely Student Graduation Criterion 9: Percentage of First-Time, Full-Time, Degree-Seeking Undergraduates Who Earn a Baccalaureate Degree Within Six Years of Their Entrance as Undergraduates |
Target: 55% of Students Will Graduate in 6 Years | The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates who earn a baccalaureate degree within six years is gathered and reported to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness [7]. For FY 2017, the graduation rate for the 2011 entering cohort was 52%, not meeting the set target. However, this rate did exceed that of SHSU’s Doctoral Comparison Group (39.3%) and was similar to that for other students in public Texas universities (52.8%), indicating that SHSU is experiencing success in graduating students in 6 years. |
Outcome F: Promote Timely Student Graduation Criterion 10: Comparisons of the Percentage of First-Time, Full-Time, Degree-Seeking Undergraduates Who Earn a Baccalaureate Degree Within Four Years of Their Entrance as Undergraduates by Ethnicity |
Target: 30% of Minority Students Will Graduate in 4 Years | The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates who earn a baccalaureate degree within four years is gathered and reported to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness [7]. Disaggregated data are available for White, Black, and Hispanic students, with all other students being grouped together in the category of “Other.” For FY 2017, this target was partially met. The 4-year graduation rate for the 2013 entering cohort of White students was 36%. In comparison, the rate for Black students 25%, the rate for Hispanic students was 34%, and the rate for “Other” students was 37%. |
Outcome F: Promote Timely Student Graduation Criterion 11: Longitudinal Comparisons of the Percentage of First-Time, Full-Time, Degree-Seeking Undergraduates Who Earn a Baccalaureate Degree Within Six Years of Their Entrance as Undergraduates by Ethnicity |
Target: 55% of Minority Students Will Graduate in 6 Years | The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates who earn a baccalaureate degree within four years is gathered and reported to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness [7]. Disaggregated data are available for White, Black, and Hispanic students, with all other students being grouped together in the category of “Other.” For fiscal year 2017, this target was partially met. The 6-year graduation rate for the 2011 entering cohort of White students was 54.7%. In comparison, the rate for Black students was 44%, the rate for Hispanic students was 52%, and the rate for “Other” students was 55%. |
Outcome G: SHSU Students Will Be Prepared for Professional Practice Criterion 12: Longitudinal Comparison of Annual Passage Rates for the Teacher Certification Exam |
Target: 90% of All Students Will Pass the Teacher Certification Exam | Overall passage rates for the Teacher Certification Exam have exceeded the locally developed target of 90% for the last four fiscal years (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017). Additionally, the overall passage rates have exceeded the state requirement of an overall passage rate of 80% as outlined in Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 229, Rule 229.4 [13]. For the most recent FY, the overall passage rate for SHSU was 92.88%. When these data were disaggregated by gender, male (92.86%) and female (92.88%) passage rates were nearly identical. When disaggregated by race, differences in student performance did appear. The passage rate for White students was 95.72%, while the passage rates for Hispanic and Black students were lower, standing respectively at 89.47% and 78.13% [10]. |
Outcome G: SHSU Students Will Be Prepared for Professional Practice Criterion 13: Longitudinal Comparison of Annual Passage Rates for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for First-Time Test Takers |
Target: 80% of All Students Will Pass the NCLEX Exam | In accordance with the Rules and Regulations Relating to Nurse Education, Licensure, and Practice of the Texas Board of Nursing, Rule §214.4.b.1.H states that “failure to maintain an 80% passing rate on the licensing examination by first-time candidates” can jeopardize program approval (see page 123) [14]. For 2017, SHSU exceeded this target with a passage rate of 92.13% [9]. Passage rates for SHSU students have exceeded 80% for four of the last five years (2013 – 87.5%, 2014 – 73.91%, 2015 – 88.06%, 2016 – 89.55%, 2017 – 92.13%) [9]. |