Increasing Student Success at Minority-Serving Institutions: Findings from the BEAMS Project
Del Rios, Melissa; Leegwater, Lacey
Institute for Higher Education Policy
This monograph details the process Building Engagement and Attainment for Minority Students (BEAMS) institutions used to craft data-driven action plans to improve student success. More than 100 four-year Historically Black, Hispanic-Serving, and Tribal colleges and universities participated in the five-year program that produced best practices available for replication by institutions across the nation. Among the key findings and practices that have emerged for successful data collection and use include: (1) align data collection methods with institutional capacity; (2) draw on available internal and external resources; (3) develop a framework to interpret data results. Certain practices have emerged during the BEAMS project that have led to short-term successes in identifying campus concerns and implementing action plans: (1) establishing a strong team; (2) linking BEAMS work with a larger campus initiative; and (3) building support from senior administration, faculty, and staff. The monograph recommends that institutions must make greater technology and staff investments in their institutional research and assessment offices. State systems must continue to support and encourage data capacity building at their institutions. A report is needed to document the data capacity status of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). Finally, investments are needed to build the capacity of MSIs to collect, analyze, and use data for institutional decision making and accountability efforts. Lists of BEAMS Participating Campuses and BEAMS Consultants are appended. (Contains 3 tables and 3 figures.)
Del Rios, M., & Leegwater, L. (2012). Increasing Students Success at Minority-Serving Institutions: Findings from the BEAMS Project. Institute for Higher Education Policy. Available at Http:/www.ucf.library.edu
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