MORE GUIDANCE, BETTER RESULTS?

Program Control Difference StandardOutcome Group Group (Impact) ErrorAverage number of credits earned 1.9 1.7 0.1 0.2Regular credits 1.8 1.6 0.2 0.2Developmental credits 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0Term GPA (%)0 to 1.9 8.6 6.1 2.5 ** 1.12.0 and higher 18.3 18.3 0.0 1.7No GPA a 73.1 75.6 -2.5 1.9Fourth postprogram semester bTable 4.2 (continued)Registered for any courses (%) 24.4 23.2 1.3 1.8Average number of credits attempted 2.3 2.1 0.2 0.2Regular credits 2.2 1.9 0.3 0.2Developmental credits 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0Sample size (total = 2,139) 1,073 1,066SOURCES: MDRC calculations from Lorain County Community College and Owens Community Collegetranscript data.NOTES: Rounding may cause slight discrepancies in sums and differences.A two-tailed t-test was applied to differences between research groups. Statistical significance levels areindicated as: *** = 1 percent; ** = 5 percent; * = 10 percent.Estimates are adjusted by cohort and college.GPA = grade point average.aThe “No GPA” category includes students who did not enroll and students who took onlydevelopmental courses, which are not included in GPA calculations.bThe fourth postprogram semester does not include data for credits earned or term GPA.Cumulative ResultsTable 4.3 shows some cumulative academic outcome measures from the first programsemester through the third postprogram semester; registration data also include the fourthpostprogram semester. The cumulative results suggest that over the course of three years,program group students registered in 0.2 more semester than did control group students. Inaddition, during the first two and a half years after random assignment, compared with controlgroup students, program group students earned 0.4 more developmental credit. There was nostrong evidence of positive program impacts on overall (regular plus developmental) cumulativecredits earned, nor was there strong evidence of positive program impacts on students’ likelihoodof earning a degree or certificate. Overall, it appears that the program’s positive impactson educational outcomes are fairly limited.50