University creates productive discussion guide about DFW rates

"By articulating specific areas of focus for a conversation and following a standard sequence in the process, participants are less likely to feel personally targeted or stigmatized," Downey says.

"Faculty members reported feeling blamed or targeted in conversations around course completion rates, even when several interventions had been tested or when the issues were beyond an individual faculty member's control," says Christina Downey, associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education and dean of university college.

To address these concerns, administrators created a step-by-step process that guides unit leaders and groups of disciplinary faculty members through a review of course completion data, followed by a facilitated conversation about past and future courses of action.

The Course Completion Rate Discussion Guide was inspired by the idea of manualization, which is often applied in mental health settings.

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