Collaboration is driving new innovations to support student success on the Hilltop. A recently developed dashboard is changing the way the University identifies and assists students who may be at risk of not graduating on time. The “Graduation Target Dashboard” brings a fresh approach to monitoring student progress, utilizing predictive analytics and centralized data to provide timely interventions.
A Vision for Student Success
As explained by Dustin Grabsch, Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education & Academic Success, the dashboard focuses on anticipated four- and six-year graduation rates. It uses data on accumulated credit hours to predict whether students are on track to graduate within their expected time frame. “The dashboard helps us intervene sooner,” Grabsch shared, “based on how the cohort is progressing.” By pinpointing students who may be falling behind, administrators can take proactive steps to provide the necessary support.
This tool plays a critical role in supporting SMU’s broader SMU-in-Four initiative. Launched in 2020, this five-year initiative aims to improve first-year student retention and increase four-year graduation rates by enhancing the undergraduate experience. With a focus on academic advising, early academic alerts, and improving first-year and gateway courses, SMU-in-Four seeks to create a supportive environment that enables all students to thrive academically and graduate on time.
Transforming Data into Actionable Insights
Before this tool, the process of identifying at-risk students was labor-intensive and fragmented. Grabsch credited Stephen Forrest and Adam Pressler from University Decision Support (UDS) and the Office of Information Technology (OIT), respectively, for their technical leadership, highlighting how they transformed an earlier system. “Stephen had generated a query to calculate credit hour attainment, but it only reported numbers,” Grabsch explained. “Adam rebuilt that calculated field, integrating it into a comprehensive dashboard. Now, we can predict both four- and six-year graduation rates while comparing cohort performance.”
Centralized Access and Broader Collaboration
Built in Tableau, the dashboard also includes a “student info card” that consolidates data from various sources, including login activity and academic progress. “Instead of jumping between different systems, we can look up an individual student, make a phone call, and address issues quickly,” said Grabsch. This capability has additional potential, as the feature can be adapted for other dashboards to enhance case management.
Eric Macy from OIT emphasized the collaborative nature of this project, noting that it began as a grassroots effort and evolved into a strategic tool for the university. He added, “We’re now more closely collaborating with University Decision Support (UDS) to manage future requests and ensure streamlined processes.”
A Commitment to Excellence
This dashboard is not just a tool; it’s a commitment to improving SMU’s four- and six-year graduation rates, metrics that align with both institutional goals and rankings in outlets like U.S. News & World Report. By accounting for every student—whether they’ve graduated, are on leave, or have exited the university—SMU aims to improve its record-keeping and provide clarity for all stakeholders.
If you wish to discuss the possibility of similar data visualization dashboards or other ways to harness the power of your data, contact University Decision Support to get started!
