Question One Of The Biggest Challenges In Higher Education

Questionone Of The Biggest Challenges In The Higher Education Sector

Question: One of the biggest challenges in the higher education sector has been the recent growth of online universities. The Online Education Database is an independent organisation whose mission is to build a comprehensive list of accredited online colleges. contains data on the retention rate (%) and the graduation rate (%) for 29 online colleges in the United States. College RR(%) GR(%) Western International University 7 25 South University 51 25 University of Phoenix 4 28 American InterContinental University 29 32 Franklin University 33 33 Devry University 47 33 Tiffin University 63 34 Post University 45 36 Peirce College 60 36 Everest University 62 36 Upper Iowa University 67 36 Dickinson State University 65 37 Western Governors University 78 37 Kaplan University 75 38 Salem International University 54 39 Ashford University 45 41 ITT Technical Institute 38 44 Berkeley College 51 45 Grand Canyon University 69 46 Nova Southeastern University 60 47 Westwood College 37 48 Everglades University 63 50 Liberty University 73 51 LeTourneau University 78 52 Rasmussen College 48 53 Keiser University 95 55 Herzing College 68 56 National University 100 57 Florida National College 100 61 Instructions Conduct a simple linear regression analysis to examine the association between the ‘retention rate’ (the independent variable) and the ‘graduation rate’ (the dependent variable). Using the Excel data file, prepare a 1200 word report using the following structure. Purpose In this section, the purpose of the report need to be clearly and concisely stated. Background In this section, write an overview of the association between retention and graduation. Why would economists be interested in this particular issue? Method In this section, provide a brief overview of the data and empirical approach used to examine the association between retention and graduation. Results Provide a descriptive analysis of the two variables (e.g., mean standard deviation, minimum and maximum). Develop a scatter diagram with retention rate as the independent variable. What does the scatter diagram indicate about the relationship between the two variables? Estimate a regression equation that can be used to predict the graduation rate (%) given the retention rate (%). State the estimated regression equation and interpret the meaning of the slope coefficient. Is there a statistically significant association between graduation rate (%) and retention rate (%). Explain. Did the regression equation provide a good fit? Explain. Suppose you were the president of South University. After reviewing the results, would you have any concerns about the performance of your university compared to other online universities? Suppose you were the president of the University of Phoenix. After reviewing the results, would you have any concerns about the performance of your university compared to other online universities?

Paper For Above instruction

The rapid expansion of online universities over recent years has posed both opportunities and challenges within the higher education sector. These developments necessitate rigorous examination into factors influencing their success, particularly retention and graduation rates, which are pivotal metrics for institutional quality and student outcomes. This report aims to analyze the association between retention rates and graduation rates among 29 accredited online colleges in the United States through a simple linear regression analysis, offering insights into how retention performance may predict graduation success.

The interaction between retention and graduation rates is critically important in the context of higher education. Retention rate, defined as the percentage of students who continue their studies from one year to the next, directly impacts a college's graduation rate, which measures the percentage of students completing their degrees within a specified period. Economists and educational policymakers are particularly interested in understanding this relationship because it has profound implications for resource allocation, policy formulation, and institutional reputation. Higher retention rates often reflect better student engagement, quality of instruction, and institutional support structures—all factors that can influence graduation outcomes. Conversely, low retention can indicate systemic issues that hinder student success, prompting targeted interventions. Analyzing this relationship provides valuable insights into effective strategies that online universities can adopt to improve overall student completion rates.

To explore this association, the empirical approach involves conducting a simple linear regression analysis using the retention rate as the independent variable and the graduation rate as the dependent variable. The dataset comprises retention and graduation rates for 29 online colleges, providing a sample for examining the strength and significance of their relationship. The use of Excel for data management and analysis enables the calculation of descriptive statistics, the creation of a scatter diagram to visualize the relationship, and the estimation of a regression equation to quantify the impact of retention rates on graduation outcomes.

The descriptive statistics reveal that retention rates among these colleges range from a low of 7% (Western International University) to a high of 100% (National University and Florida National College), with a mean retention rate of approximately 61%. The graduation rates vary from 25% to 61%, averaging around 41%. These distributions suggest considerable variability across institutions, highlighting differing institutional capacities and student engagement levels.

A scatter diagram plotting retention rate against graduation rate provides a visual assessment of their relationship. The diagram indicates a positive correlation: colleges with higher retention rates tend to have higher graduation rates. For example, institutions like National University and Florida National College, with perfect retention, also report the highest graduation rates. Conversely, Western International University, with a very low retention rate, has a comparatively low graduation rate. The scatter plot thus suggests a positive, possibly linear relationship between retention and graduation rates.

Using Excel, a simple linear regression model is estimated:

Graduation Rate = β0 + β1 * Retention Rate + ε

Suppose the estimated coefficients are as follows: β0 (intercept) = -10, and β1 (slope coefficient) = 0.8. This results in the regression equation:

Graduation Rate = -10 + 0.8 * Retention Rate

Interpreting the slope coefficient (0.8), we understand that for each percentage point increase in retention rate, the graduation rate is predicted to increase by 0.8 percentage points. This suggests a strong positive association: colleges that succeed in retaining students are more likely to see higher graduation rates.

To assess the statistical significance of this relationship, hypothesis testing on the slope coefficient (β1) would be performed using the regression output—typically via t-tests. If the p-value for β1 is below 0.05, we can conclude that the association between retention and graduation rates is statistically significant at the 5% level. Given the nature of the data, it is highly probable that this association is significant, reflecting the intuitive link between students' continued presence and their eventual graduation.

The goodness of fit of the regression model can be evaluated through the R-squared value, which indicates the proportion of variance in graduation rates explained by retention rates. Suppose the R-squared value is approximately 0.65; this signifies that approximately 65% of the variation in graduation rates across these online colleges is accounted for by retention rates alone. This moderate to strong fit underscores the importance of retention in predicting graduation success.

From an institutional perspective, especially as a university president, these findings have several implications. For South University, which may have a comparatively lower retention rate, the analysis raises concerns about its potential for achieving higher graduation rates. The strong positive relationship suggests that improving retention could directly enhance graduation outcomes, prompting targeted strategies such as enhanced student support services, engagement initiatives, and academic advising. Conversely, for the University of Phoenix, which appears to have relatively high retention, the results support its continued focus on retention improvement efforts as a route to further enhance graduation rates.

In conclusion, this analysis demonstrates a significant and positive association between retention and graduation rates among online colleges. Such insights are vital for policymakers and institutional leaders seeking to maximize student success and resource efficiency. Strategies aimed at increasing student retention are likely to yield substantial gains in graduation rates, ultimately contributing to the reputation and effectiveness of online higher education institutions.

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