Challenges in Curriculum Adaptation across Institutions of Higher Education:

Similarities between International and National Student Transfer

R. Kempter, C. Furse, N. Cotter (University of Utah)N. Safai, L. Brinton (Salt Lake Community College)

What is the Problem?

• Majority of the undergraduate students in UofU ECE transfer from nearby 2 year schools.

• Courses and grading may or may not be identical.

Question:

What is the best policy for admitting undergraduate transfer students?

Are Courses & Grades Equal?

=

?

4 year programs

2 year programs

=

?

=?

=?

=

?=

?

=?

Concurrent HS

program:

“Lead the Way”

=?

Are Courses & Grades Equal?

=

!

4 year programs

2 year programs

=

!

=!

=!

=

!=

!

=!

Utah Legislature:“They MUST be!”

Concurrent HS

program:

“Lead the Way”

=!

Today’s Undergrad Transfer Procedures

GPA> 2.8↓

9 credit hours

BAB

2nd year grades

4th year grades

2nd year grades

4th year grades

B+B+B

BAB

• Credits transfer, Grades do not

• Admission to Major status in ECE in sophomore year:

GPA>2.8, up to a max of 75 students/year

Transfer Procedures: Issues

2nd year grades

4th year grades

B+B+B

BAB

GPA= 2.81

9 credit hours

BAB

2nd year grades

4th year grades

Case 1: Transfer student has lower 2nd year GPA than UofU student

2nd year GPA = 3.16 2nd year GPA = 2.81

Graduation GPA = 3.1 Graduation GPA = 3.33

AAA

Transfer Procedures: Issues

2nd year grades

4th year grades

AAA

BAB

BAB

2nd year GPA = 4.0 2nd year GPA = 4.0

2nd year grades

4th year grades

Case 2: Top students with high 2nd year GPAs

What if there’s grade inflation between UofU and transfer Institution?

But

Graduation GPA = 3.66 Graduation GPA = 3.33

Transfer Procedures: Issues

Case 3: Assume grade inflation is involved

2nd year GPA = 2.5<2.8

2nd year grades

ECE 1000: B-ECE 2270: B-ECE 2000: C

2nd year GPA = 3.66>2.8

2nd year grades

ECE 1000: A-ECE 2270: A-ECE 2000: B+

Tracking the Individual Student

GPA at unaccredited institution

Range of grades at unaccredited institution

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

GP

A

GPA at Graduation from UoU

Range of grades from UofU

Student• 24/67 students: 0 transfers• 43/67 students transferred

an average of 3.37 classes

ECE Undergraduate Student Performance

35/43 T students GPA ↓

8/43 T students GPA ↑

Grade inflation, UofU students disadvantage

2 year colleges

Academic performance may be lower

Reasons for Transfer

4 year colleges

Freshmen competitively selected

= =

All of these indicate risk-factors for lower academic performance

Result of transfer

“Classic” grading on a curve cannot be used as a performance estimator between different groups!

Result:Difference in student demographics leads to different student performance statistics.

Probation for Transfer students prior to admission to major status

Current “Solution”

Pros: academic standards are maintainedCons: possibly unfair, singles out transfer

students, unpopular with good students

Possible solutions

Sounds familiar?Not a novel situation, common situation in especially international graduate student transfer.

There we have:• Very different academic performance spectra

• Tuition levels vary greatly, students may be more or less motivated (amount/time)

• Greatly varying academic climate

• Standardized tests (TOEFL, GRE…)• GPA and school history • Permanent performance monitoring, GPA>3.0• International advisor, mandatory

How cope?

Possible Undergrad Solutions: The Future

Constant performance monitoring and mandatory advisor as for international graduate students?→ proven effective, good results!

Standardized state-wide pre-ECE test, something like the SAT?

Common exam before admission to ECE major status for all students?

Conclusion

• We investigated national student transfer on the undergraduate level

• Different student demographics lead to measurably different student performance statistics:→ Grading on a curve problematic

• U of U accepts credits but not grades:

- Grade inflation, UofU students are at disadvantage (75 max/year, GPA>2.8)

: disadvantage at Graduation

Good students

-

: advantage at Graduation

Dull students

-

Conclusion: Ways to Cope

• Future?

- Standardized tests such as SAT, GRE

- Common exam before major status in ECE

- Constant performance monitoring for undergraduates, → same as for international graduate students

- Mandatory undergraduate advisor

Currently: transfer students are put on probation•

Pros: academic standards are maintainedCons: unfair, singles out transfer students

Conclusion: Ways to Cope

if undergraduate_student_transfer == 1grading=standardized

end

Curriculum development has to be harmonized across institutions!

Questions ?

Roland Kempter, Dr. Cynthia FurseElectrical and Computer Engineering, University of UtahKempter@ece.utah.edu, cfurse@ece.utah.edu