March 13th, 2014

Dr. William J. Katip

President Grace College & Seminary

Indiana Commission for Higher Education

Profile

Grace College and Theological Seminary has provided ministerial preparation since 1937 and liberal arts education since 1948 in order to

fulfill its mission as:

An Evangelical Christian community of higher education which applies biblical values in strengthening character, sharpening competence, and

preparing for service.

We have over 1900 students in undergraduate, graduate, online, seminary, and satellite locations – Campus Location: Winona Lake, IN

Overview

• Impetus for the 3-Year program• Timeline from conception to implementation to graduates• Barriers to implementation• Solutions and the model• Results/Success

The Impetus behind the change 2008 Realities

• Funding uncertainties • Growing operational budget• Increasing competition • 2009 decreases in Indiana state student financial aid • High percentage of PELL recipients

The Impetus behind the change 2008 Realities

• High institutional discount rates• 60% of our students’ families earning less than $80,000/year• Majority of our students coming from states with the highest

unemployment rates (IN, OH, MI, IL)• Wanting to be proactive and on the front edge of higher education

Timeline of the process – concept to graduates

• October 2009 - Commissioned research (Hanover Research Council)• November 2009 – A Reimagine task force was developed • November 2009 – April 2010: Held 30 meetings to design a model that:

– Stayed true to Grace’s mission– Provided high quality academics– Addressed the whole college’s offerings, not just specific majors

• Was relevant to millennial students• Was practical and had an applied learning component • Addressed financial concerns of families today• Increased Grace’s annual net revenue by $1.5 million

Timeline of the process – concept to graduates

• January 2010 – Presentation of 3-Year Program to faculty• April 2010 – Final report was sent to the board with recommendations• Fall 2010 – Course redesign to address “seat time,” class schedules,

implications to the student experience, athletics, and academic achievement

• Spring 2011 – Marketing and admissions worked on communication of the product and hired for a full campaign to communicate to students, parents, and the surrounding community

• Spring 2011 – Final faculty approval and adoption • Fall 2011 – First incoming class enrolls • May 10, 2014 – First class of graduates with a 3-year bachelor degree

Barriers to innovation and launch

How to maintain efficiency without compromising quality or wavering from the mission:• Calendar / format • Curriculum • Faculty • Applied learning across all majors, schools, and degrees• Pricing structure• Conflicts with schedule (athletics, etc.)• Branding (excellence/quality)

Solutions / Product An academic offering that has a total curriculum re-design which emphasizes improved student learning outcomes, the use of technology assistance in course delivery, and the inclusion of Grace’s core goals in core courses. • Three-year bachelor’s degree option in all Grace majors / degrees• Modified calendar to eight-week session• Standardized number of credit hours for bachelor’s degree (120)• Online tuition-free summer school - just a technology fee• Increased emphasis on technology-assisted course delivery• Applied learning• New Grace core, rather than “menu” general education• Now offering a four-year bachelor’s + master’s degree option

Results-Recruitment

• 59% of incoming freshmen said the 3-Year Accelerated Degree Program had a role in their decision to come to Grace

• 52% of incoming freshmen plan on graduating in three years• 29% plan on staying for a fourth year to get a master’s degree• The reasons students said they joined the 3-Year Program:

– 60% identified “cost savings” as the most important factor– 26% identified “less time in school” as the second most important

factor– 27% identified “flexibility to start career sooner” as the third most

important factor 

11

Enrollment UpdatesNew Students2013: 4422012: 407 2011: 3462010: 2902009: 2902008: 346

Total Enrollment2013: 1,9042012: 1,8212011: 1,6162010: 1,7732009: 1,6412008: 1,508

Results-Academics

• Grade distribution shows no decline• Student satisfaction is up in most categories• Student satisfaction… “nearly all of respondents would enroll at Grace

again.”

Results-Retention(Entering Students 2011 vs 2009)

• Increase in progress toward graduation (75% vs 67.4%) • Increase in exactly 3 year graduates (21.3% vs 6.1%)• Increase in students graduating in 3 years or less (27.6% vs 11.9%), including

transfer students• Increase in students who will graduate in 3 1/2 years or less (46.2% vs 21.3%)• Increase in students who will graduate in 4 years or less (73.2% vs 57.5%) • Decrease in students who need more than 4 years to earn their bachelor's

degree (1.8% vs 10.1%)

Questions???