Institution Spotlight
In 2016, the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia created a compilation guide of programs for access, success, and completion at institutions across the state. Highlighted below are examples from four-year state institutions. To learn more about what specific institutions, including community colleges, are doing, you can view SCHEV's comprehensive guide.
William & MaryJames Madison UniversityOld Dominion University |
William & Mary created a Working Group on Retention and Graduation which found that students who earn a GPA of 2.0 or below for their first year are half as likely to graduate as their peers earning a 2.0 or above. They also found that students who received a low midterm grade were very likely to improve their standings considerably before the end of the semester. Beginning Fall 2016, posting midterm grades became required of faculty.
In an effort to lower access barriers for students in the surrounding Shenandoah Valley, JMU created the Valley Scholars program. This program serves high-performing first-generation students from the surrounding school districts beginning in 7th grade. Selected students attend a number of college-readiness programs between 8th - 12th grade, and if the students remain in good academic standing they are offered significant scholarship support to attend JMU. Old Dominion University's Learn, Earn, Advantage Program (LEAP) provides campus employment and training for interested first and second year students. Positions are aimed at students who are just above the income eligibility for federal work study. Students will work paid 10-15 hours per week positions in one of 68 participating campus departments, and are required to take a 10-week professional development course to supplement their experience. ODU has found that students in the LEAP program are retained at higher rates than than those who do not participate. |