This is a research project among individuals representing three of Oregon’s community colleges that seeks to determine whether the no-cost/low-cost schedule designation required at Oregon’s community colleges and universities by HB 2871 has an effect on student enrollment behavior. Additionally, we seek to determine whether the no-cost/low-cost schedule designation has an effect on course completion and whether there is a different effect for traditionally underserved student populations.
Our research questions include:
- Does the presence of no-cost/low-cost schedule designation affect student enrollment behavior?
- Is there an effect on course enrollment (defined as the final number on the last day to add/drop)?
- Is there an effect on course fill rate (how quickly the course filled)?
- Is there an effect on course enrollment and fill rate based upon the time and/or day the course was offered or the delivery method?
- Is there a significant difference in enrollment intensity (number of credits enrolled per quarter per student) in courses with the no-cost/low-cost schedule designation compared to courses without the designation? Is there an additive effect (number of additional credits increases with enrollment in more designated courses)?
- Is there a significant difference in course enrollment, course fill rate, or enrollment intensity if the data is disaggregated by part-time vs full-time status, race/ethnicity, Pell grant eligibility, age, and sex/gender.
This research may be of interest to faculty who want to know whether their course material choice may have an impact on enrollment. Bookstore managers, registrars, schedulers, and others invest considerable effort to implement the no-cost/low-cost schedule designation and want to know that their work has an impact that benefits students. Finally, legislatures and administrators want to know how these designations affect students and any policy recommendations to increase benefits to students.
Join us to learn about our methodology, findings, conclusions, and recommendations for future studies.
After participating in this session, attendees will be able to:
- Learn the methodology, results, and conclusions of this study
- Learn about our suggestions for replicating and improving this study
