Leveraging Information

The higher education landscape is covered with meetings and conventions about facilities, academics, gender equity, racism, tenure, student disciplinary problems, student retention, athletics, many other topics. Typically, in any given year, a wealth of information is presented at conventions, forums, symposiums, and meetings. Attendees can keep abreast on whatever is topical for the group convened. Conversations often continue in the hallways, lounges, and bars. Participants dissect, weigh, judge, and deconstruct the substance of the presentations. Whatever the particular case, these gatherings generally provide valuable information and insights. Yet, it would be difficult for any one individual to attend all the conventions. What's needed is a clearinghouse of sorts to make information available so that the benefits are attainable.

The WPI plan includes measures designed to facilitate dialogues on successful tactics; on the implications of new events; and on where further research is needed. WPI will offer coordinated meets to address the needs of nonprofit minority-serving institutions to help develop and quantify unique problems and challenges to assist in their missions of educating disadvantaged youth. More importantly, WPI will conduct and make available its own research to help minority-serving institutions: solidify their fiscal foundations, enhance leadership and administrative practices, and ultimately improve student outcomes.

There are few issues in higher education more critical and political than retention and ultimately graduation rates. There is a considerable body of literature that discusses and describes the problem, and even some research that points to variables that might be associated with it. There are countless untested or at best, unproven strategies as to what needs to be done. Each institution has a commitment to improving its results, but is constrained by mission and resources.

To address this issue, WPI's goals includes the establishment of a central library of materials relevant for and accessible by HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions. WPI will also create a detailed national database of information to help institutions combat low retention and completion rates. The database will include information on exit points correlated to those exiting at each point.

WPI's goals also include strengthening institutional research capabilities at minority-serving institutions. Specifically, WPI will sponsor research on data-driven, actionable propositions to improve retention. Field testing of data-driven research-based models will be published, shared, and used in consultations.

Our focus is on assisting minority-serving institutions in implementing the U.S. Department of Education mandates for higher education while positioning themselves achieve sustainable excellence by increasing enrollment, retention, and graduation rates.