Chapter 3 Defining an Institutional Aspiration Using Data

Question 1

What is one defining trait of US higher education?

Answer 1

Diversity among campuses.

Question 2

What happens to institutions that do not stand out?

Answer 2

They will feel competition more keenly.

Question 3

What is a consequence of pursuing rankings and prestige in higher education?

Answer 3

Higher education appears increasingly homogenous.

Question 4

What should presidents and senior campus leaders do to understand their institutions?

Answer 4

Use qualitative and quantitative data for analysis.

Question 5

What is rare for an institution in higher education?

Answer 5

Truly abandoning its founding purpose or original context.

Question 6

What motto did Ezra Cornell pen for Cornell University?

Answer 6

I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.

Question 7

What should ambitious agendas reference according to the text?

Answer 7

An institution’s guiding principles.

Question 8

What should leaders do with previous strategic planning efforts?

Answer 8

Review, synthesize, and identify key themes.

Question 9

What is an ideal vehicle for considering a campus’s strengths?

Answer 9

A campus-wide self-study.

Question 10

What do successful self-studies generate among campus constituents?

Answer 10

A sense of pride and optimism.

Question 11

What do campus strategic plans often need to avoid becoming outdated?

Answer 11

Refreshing and setting new goals.

Question 12

What do governance documents reveal about a campus?

Answer 12

Hot-button topics between administrative and academic prerogatives.

Question 13

What did the Kentucky General Assembly pass in 1997?

Answer 13

Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997 (House Bill 1).

Question 14

What does the 60x30TX Plan aim for?

Answer 14

60% of the 25- to 34-year-old population in Texas to hold a certificate or degree by 2030.

Question 15

What is the purpose of listening tours in defining institutional aspirations?

Answer 15

Gather qualitative data and align various agendas.

Question 16

What should campus leaders be willing to accept when presenting a new vision?

Answer 16

Discomfort with initial responses.

Question 17

What is a common issue with institutional research offices?

Answer 17

They are often data rich but information poor.

Question 18

What should senior leaders estimate when discussing institutional aspirations?

Answer 18

The internal impact of proposed changes.

Question 19

What trend did the National Center for Educational Statistics report regarding graduation rates?

Answer 19

The six-year graduation rate for first-year students increased from 55.4% to 62.4% from 1996 to 2012.

Question 20

What is the significance of the Student Achievement Measures?

Answer 20

They provide more inclusive measures for graduation rates.

Question 21

According to the hypothetical example, how many additional students could earn a degree?

Answer 21

Up to 198 more students.

Question 22

What do colleges want for their students?

Answer 22

To succeed and earn degrees.

Question 23

What analysis can focus on student success?

Answer 23

Total number of degrees earned, enrollment, or student success metrics.

Question 24

What is the focus of colleges regarding student success?

Answer 24

Colleges want their students to succeed and contribute to the campus’s bottom line.

Question 25

Why is it important to view data through the lens of equity?

Answer 25

To address gaps in access and outcomes, and to highlight inequities and injustice.

Question 26

What factors should colleges consider when analyzing graduation rates?

Answer 26

Race, ethnicity, gender, income levels, age, enrollment intensity, and other factors.

Question 27

What do equity gaps indicate?

Answer 27

Structural problems within a college or university and society.

Question 28

What is a key component of defining an aspirational strategy in higher education?

Answer 28

Focusing on equity and social justice.

Question 29

What is the significance of impact estimates and value propositions in higher education?

Answer 29

They help build trust, strengthen relationships, and inspire confidence in the campus community.

Question 30

What is the relationship between a college education and economic outcomes?

Answer 30

A college education can net more than a million dollars in earnings over a lifetime.

Question 31

Fill in the blank: Equity gaps are percentage point differences between the graduation rate of a specific race/ethnicity and the graduation rate of _______.

Answer 31

white students.

Question 32

What does the 90 x 30 Challenge at Lehman College aim to accomplish?

Answer 32

To award 90,000 or more degrees by 2030.

Question 33

How does Lehman College's demographic influence its mission?

Answer 33

93% of students are people of color, with a significant portion from low-income households.

Question 34

What was the projected economic impact of the 90 x 30 Challenge?

Answer 34

Nearly $7 billion in additional income and roughly $3 billion in tax revenues.

Question 35

True or False: Lehman College's 90 x 30 Challenge has been recognized as a national model for aspirational strategies.

Answer 35

True.

Question 36

What type of data can help colleges analyze postgraduate outcomes?

Answer 36

State longitudinal data systems and data from the Census Bureau.

Question 37

What are some specific tools mentioned that help colleges develop their value propositions?

Answer 37

Return on investment analyses.

Question 38

What does a focus on equity in higher education signify for colleges?

Answer 38

A commitment to addressing systemic obstacles and improving outcomes for underserved populations.

Question 39

Fill in the blank: The education provided by institutions serving historically underserved populations is a _______ and economic imperative.

Answer 39

moral.

Question 40

What does the term 'intersectionality' refer to in the context of college equity analysis?

Answer 40

The overlapping social identities and related systems of oppression or discrimination.

Question 41

What was a major challenge faced by the Bronx population, as highlighted in the case study of Lehman College?

Answer 41

Low levels of educational attainment and high rates of poverty.

Question 42

What role does the COVID-19 pandemic play in the perception of college education value?

Answer 42

It raises concerns about job prospects and the worth of investing in a college education.

Question 43

What is the significance of the American Council on Education recognizing Lehman College?

Answer 43

It acknowledges Lehman as a top vehicle of upward mobility among Hispanic-serving institutions.