North Dakota State University Case Study

In the wake of the pandemic, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, reflected on its current practices and came together as a team to explore how
they could adopt more student-centered scheduling approaches.

Could the university determine better ways of meeting challenges around student success and student retention by leveraging data? Answering this question began with an exploration of classroom use and analysis of the institution’s historical pattern of course scheduling. Using this information, the university could begin to define how to build a schedule that would benefit students during a remarkably challenging time.

“Through our collaboration with Ad Astra, we realized that our schedule was creating a number of barriers,” said Phillip Hunt, Registrar, North Dakota State University. “Courses weren’t filled to capacity and there were scheduling roadblocks, issues with modality, and a limited number of online options.”

The Solution:

Using data as the backbone of a strategic scheduling practice focused on students

After recognizing the problematic patterns, the university used its momentum to explore how to best manage the academic enterprise as a whole. This included using real-time data to create schedules focused on helping students progress toward completion.

It would be a process that demanded a collaborative approach, and faculty involvement allowed for a more synergistic decision-making process. Through
collaboration and teamwork, the institution adopted an innovative approach to smart schedule building that leveraged the data alongside awareness of financial
implications. In the last year, the university has seen a 2% increase in student retention from one semester to another semester.

As a next step, the university has embraced student demand forecasting to ensure course availability that supports retention semester after semester and year after year. The institution is also in the process of implementing professional advising in all colleges — focusing on leveraging the course schedule for optimal student retention. By partnering with Ad Astra, the university has instituted block scheduling patterns that foster student collaboration and higher success rates.

“We’re able to clearly see the data we have and share that data with the academic advisors and deans,” Hunt said. “This is important because they are the ones who know their programs and curriculum. We’re collaborating with them as thought partners to leverage the tools and the data to make smart decisions for our students.”

School Background

School Background North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, was founded in 1890 as the North Dakota Agricultural College. The institution serves two campuses in addition to agricultural research extension centers throughout the state. The university is an R1 Institution, classified as having the highest level of research activity as designated by the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education Institutions. The public land-grant research university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

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CASE STUDY

A data-informed approach to block scheduling for sustained student success

The Challenge

Legacy scheduling approaches lacked focus on student retention and completion

The Solution:

Using data as the backbone of a strategic scheduling practice focused on students

School Background

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