Portland State University (PSU) is implementing a portfolio of initiatives aimed at improving student success and retention in the context of a dynamic environment. Key strategies include intentional advising, prescriptive degree maps, and early identification of at-risk students, supported by data assessment and a culture of measurement. The goal is to enhance educational opportunities while adapting to challenges such as declining resources and evolving student needs.

1. Portfolio of Initiatives:
An Institutional Model for
Implementing Student Success Initiatives
Sukhwant Jhaj, Dan Fortmiler,
Ella Peterson

2. Portland State University
• PSU offers 60 undergraduate and 40 graduate
programs.
• PSU offers more than 226 bachelor's, master's and
doctoral degrees.
Enrollment 2011-2012 (Fall 2011)
• Total: 29,703
• Undergraduate: 23,222
• Graduate: 6,481
• Full time: 58.3 percent
• Part time: 41.7 percent

3. How does one develop strategy in a
dynamic environment?

4. Institutional Context
Background / History
First Steps for Student Success and Retention Committee
AACRAO Consultants
President Wiewel’s Blueprint
1. Provide Civic Leadership Through Partnerships
2. Improve Student Success
3. Achieve Global Excellence
4. Enhance Educational Opportunity
5. Expand Resources and Improve Effectiveness

5. External Context
Dynamic Environment
Declining resources
Lack of funding
Governance issues
Relationship with the state
Leadership changes set relationship with external audience
The Language of “performance” used to imagine higher-ed
Performance compact
Delta Project
School comparator tool
Competitive landscape
Alternatives to traditional 4-year university

6. What is Portfolio of Initiatives?
Created by Lowell Bryan to
Develop strategy in a dynamic and unpredictable environment
Elements:
Rigorous Search
Initiatives with the highest possibility of success
Diagnosis and design
Focus on action
Testing through experimentation
Just in time implementation
Support champions
Importance of passionate advocates
Flexibility
Scale up successful projects, Winding down unsuccessful projects
Changing course when needed

7. Accessing Success
• Well defined measures
• Balanced score card approach
• Creating a culture of assessment and review
– Projects fail not people
• Example: Prescriptive Degree Maps

8. Evolving Assessment Structure
Prior Learning End of Year E-Portfolio
Survey Survey Assessment
--Student background --Course evaluation --Student learning re:
characteristics --Academic Plans UNST goals
--Student rating of --Satisfaction
academic skills
--Student current life
situation

9. Evolving Assessment Structure
Prior Learning End of Year E-Portfolio
Survey Survey Assessment
University Student Data Warehouse
- Student Retention
- Academic Performance, Fin. Aid

10. Student Success
Academic
Preparedness and
Plan
Student
Success
Well Being
Connectedness

11. Student Success Portfolio of Initiatives
•Assess the Effectiveness of Existing •Address Students’ Financial Concerns
Policies, Procedures, and Services. (admissions
req./process, application deadline, bursars
•¡Exito! Latino student success
hold)
•Easing the transition to college using Peer
•Support Early Identification of Students at
Mentoring
Risk
•Improve the Persistence of Freshmen Living
•Intentional Advising and Charting a Pathway
on Campus
to Degree Completion
•(Last Mile Committee, degree maps, degree
map mile stone tracking, unified advising •Make Student Success Data Available at Unit
records) Level
•Improve Communication with Students •Reduce Courses with Preponderance (20%)
of D, W, F, I, X, NP Grades
•Student Success Center (long term goal)
•Manage Capacity of Programs and Course
Offerings
•Address Needs of Students Entering PSU
with a High School GPA below 3.0

13. Intentional Advising
• Intentional advising background and history
• Success supported by research
• Intentional Advising supported by
– Unified advising records,
– Prescriptive degree maps, and
– Degree map milestones tracking
– Last Mile Committee
– Fall Registration Project

14. Project: Prescriptive Degree Maps
• Rigorous Search
– Addition of new academic advisors + Research
– Support by provost, Advising Council, faculty
• Focus on action
– Testing through experimentation (pilot project)
– Embedding degree maps in PSU’s processes
• Support champions
– Excellent leadership team
• Flexibility
– Use in curricular efficiency
– Changing the project direction as a result of tech
challenges

15. Project: Prescriptive Degree Maps
Review Handout
Available online at:
http://jhaj.wordpress.com/retention-initiatives/retention-
initiative-3/prescriptive-degree-maps/

16. Thank you!
Any questions?
For more information
or a copy of this presentation visit:
http://jhaj.wordpress.com
Sukhwant Jhaj, Dan Fortmiler,
Ella Peterson