Degree Attainment Research Articles

Research Training: Research Attitudes and Skills in Public Management Students from a Peruvian University

Research has consolidated itself as a key element in the advancement of science and academic development, while simultaneously emerging as a transcendental activity that enables, among other achievements, the attainment of professional degrees and titles. This study examines the relationship between research skills and attitude towards research. The design was non-experimental, applied to a probabilistic sample of 240 students. Two questionnaires were utilized to assess attitudes and research skills. A highly significant positive correlation was found through the statistical procedure Rho Spearman = 0.594 and p-value 0.001. These results corroborated previous studies that outline significantly associated factors, confirming that the importance of research skills is necessary and part of an appropriate attitude towards research that facilitates the development of skills applicable in academic, personal, and professional spheres. Research activity is essential for the growth of critical and highly capable individuals, capable of significantly enhancing their performance in various activities. Received: 14 June 2024 / Accepted: 28 October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024

High School Curricular Rigor and Cognitive Function among White Older Adults.

Most research on the strong relationship between education and cognitive aging has focused on years of schooling. Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study-a sample of White persons born in 1939-we explored whether greater curricular rigor in high school was also associated with better cognitive function in later life. We estimated multilevel structural equation models in data from 2,749 participants who attended 308 Wisconsin high schools, graduating in 1957. Independent of academic ability and performance and school-level financial and material resources, a more rigorous high school curriculum was associated with significantly better global cognitive functioning in 2020, when most participants were 81 years old. There was also a significant mediation via eventual degree attainment. The mediation was moderated such that men and participants from high socioeconomic status families benefited most from a rigorous curriculum. We discuss implications for modern educational policy.

Cannabis Use During Adolescence and Young Adulthood and Academic Achievement

Cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood may affect academic achievement; however, the magnitude of association remains unclear. To conduct a systematic review evaluating the association between cannabis use and academic performance. CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to November 10, 2023. Observational studies examining the association of cannabis use with academic outcomes were selected. The literature search identified 17 622 unique citations. Pairs of reviewers independently assessed risk of bias and extracted data. Both random-effects models and fixed-effects models were used for meta-analyses, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach was applied to evaluate the certainty of evidence for each outcome. Data were analyzed from April 6 to May 25, 2024. School grades, school dropout, school absenteeism, grade retention, high school completion, university enrollment, postsecondary degree attainment, and unemployment. Sixty-three studies including 438 329 individuals proved eligible for analysis. Moderate-certainty evidence showed cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood was probably associated with lower school grades (odds ratio [OR], 0.61 [95% CI, 0.52-0.71] for grade B and above); less likelihood of high school completion (OR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.33-0.76]), university enrollment (OR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.60-0.87]), and postsecondary degree attainment (OR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.62-0.77]); and increased school dropout rate (OR, 2.19 [95% CI, 1.73-2.78]) and school absenteeism (OR, 2.31 [95% CI, 1.76-3.03]). Absolute risk effects ranged from 7% to 14%. Low-certainty evidence suggested that cannabis use may be associated with increased unemployment (OR, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.15-1.96]), with an absolute risk increase of 9%. Subgroup analyses with moderate credibility showed worse academic outcomes for frequent cannabis users and for students who began cannabis use earlier. Cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood was probably associated with increases in school absenteeism and dropout; reduced likelihood of obtaining high academic grades, graduating high school, enrolling in university, and postsecondary degree attainment; and perhaps increased unemployment. Further research is needed to identify interventions and policies that mitigate upstream and downstream factors associated with early cannabis exposure.

Accelerated Postsecondary Pathways: The Longer-Term Impact of the Early College High School Model on Postsecondary Degree Attainment

Accelerated Postsecondary Pathways: The Longer-Term Impact of the Early College High School Model on Postsecondary Degree Attainment

The evolution of veteran educational attainment gaps over the life cycle

Abstract Individuals who serve in the military substitute work experience for post-secondary educational attainment after high school, leading to large educational attainment gaps between new veterans and observably similar nonveterans. Little is known about the evolution of these gaps by age and across cohorts. We investigate the life-cycle attainment of veterans relative to nonveterans using a synthetic panel data approach. Following five multiyear birth cohorts we find that, on average, veterans close a 20-percentage point gap in attainment of a bachelor's or greater over time and significantly outpace observably similar nonveterans in attainment of an associate's degree. Female and minority veterans exceeded the attainment of similar nonveterans over time, and more recent birth cohorts began with larger gaps but closed them at younger ages due to increasing levels of both enrollment and enrollment intensity. Our findings highlight the important role of military service in facilitating social mobility through educational attainment.

Exploring Academic Identity, Degree Commitment, and Life Purpose in First-Time Full-Time College Students: A Six-Year Degree Attainment Study (2017–2023)

This study examined the role of academic identity, degree commitment, and sense of purpose, self-reported at the start of university, in students’ progress toward obtaining a degree over 6 years. First-time, full-time freshman students ( N = 421, response rate of 21.1%) at a public university in the southwestern United States, designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution, completed self-reported measures in Fall 2017. Their degree attainment, retention, and grade point average (GPA) were tracked until Spring 2023. Findings showed that academic identity significantly predicted 4-year degree attainment and cumulative GPA in the first 3 years. Degree commitment significantly predicted degree attainment within 4 and 5 years, retention into the third through sixth years, and cumulative GPA in the first 3 years. Altruistic purpose significantly predicted second-year retention and cumulative GPA at the end of the first year. These findings highlight the need for programs that support college student retention and success by strengthening their academic identity, degree commitment, and sense of purpose, especially altruistic purpose.

Classroom to Clinic: Universities Need to Support The Next Generation of Clinical Academics

The General Medical Council’s current version of Outcomes for Doctors sets out three key areas of expertise for tomorrow’s doctors: professional values & behaviours, professional skills, and professional knowledge. (1) Each of these competencies further develops into numerous core skills every student should attain at medical school. While the learning outcomes set under Clinical Research & Scholarship (part of Outcome 3: Professional Knowledge) could usually be attained through numerous instances across a typical medical school curriculum, opportunities to put research skills into practice have remained relatively competitive and scarce. This represents an emerging challenge across the career spectrum, particularly in the UK as the Medical Schools Council warns that the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan 2031-32 could be jeopardised if the number of clinical academics is not maintained.(2) Facilitated by the impacts of an aging workforce alongside years of underinvestment – NHS trusts and medical schools need to work quickly to address barriers in training and retaining the next generation of clinical academics.(3) Clinical Academics are the foundation of the future of medical schools. However, much more must be done to introduce, facilitate, and encourage medical students to consider the option of training as a clinical academic. Investing in opportunities for medical students to get involved in research and teaching early on in their medical career, could be a solution not just to tackle this future workforce challenge but also to offer better career prospects. This is supported by evidence from research on matched-cohort studies conducted in Australia & New Zealand demonstrating an encouraging statistic independent of academic confounding variables. (4,5) Medical students who published research in medical student journals were significantly more likely to be associated with higher degree attainment, PubMed® indexed publications and in some cases, more likely to enter surgical training or their chosen specialty. However, getting involved in clinical research as a medical student remains challenging. Lack of opportunities, competitive funding calls, and fewer supervisors willing to take on the burden of training students are only some of the many barriers students currently face in getting involved. Recent results from a survey by the University of Glasgow’s Medical School demonstrated reassuring enthusiasm for a career in clinical research/teaching among a small sample size of 55 students. Commenting on these findings, Professor Iain McInnes, Head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, said ‘.... supporting clinical academics at all stages of their career is a top priority for our college and this survey shows that the pipeline for the future of academia is in good health indeed!’. On the balance, the need of the hour must now focus on retaining this enthusiasm by investing in opportunities and offering pathways to ensure medical students can actively engage in academia. Several steps including enhancing funding, fostering stronger mentorship and networking opportunities, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and recognizing research efforts by medical students can go a long way in pursuing students to consider a rewarding career in clinical academia.

Did I Meet My Expectations? Exploring Whether Teen College Expectations Predict Degree Attainment and Mental Health

The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive power of teen college expectations on future degree attainment and mental health outcomes. It also explores the role of personality traits in this process. The data are from a sample of 8,984 U.S. residents who participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Youth – 1997 Cohort (NLSY97). Teens reported on their college expectations through self-reported measures in 1997 or 2001. In subsequent surveys (2008 onward), participants reported on their degree attainment, mental health, and personality traits. Individuals with high college expectations compared to individuals with low college expectations had a more positive personality trait profile and better mental health outcomes. When comparing people who met their expectations with people who did not meet their expectations, there were few differences in mental health. There were no significant interactions between college expectations and degree attainment, controlling for ability, socioeconomic status, and gender.

Our House Won't Rebuild Itself: Peace, Love, and Hope as Tools to Transform Graduate Medical Education.

Graduate medical education (GME), the period of specialty and subspecialty training following attainment of a medical degree, is the final step in a continuum of medical education culminating in independent physician practice. This manuscript uses the metaphor "our house" to describe all aspects of the GME environment in which health care professionals and trainees learn and work. Our house's inhabitants have unequivocally stated that our house is in a state of disrepair. While physicians-in-training inevitably face challenges on their journey to independent practice, those from historically marginalized backgrounds face these challenges compounded by the disproportionate impact of identity-based harms. The authors use critical and liberatory theories to explore dominant power dynamics in GME, classifying identity-based harms as silence, pain, and despair. To strive for true transformation, the authors advocate for a new set of house rules, a different way of co-existing based on the principles of liberatory design. The authors call on readers to rebuild the house of GME by drawing parallels between the foundational human values of peace, love, and hope and the educational principles of psychological safety, identity safety, and belonging. To transform GME, our community must make space in our house for all individuals to join, and indeed, to rebuild together.

Importance of alternative pathways to STEM through analysis of longitudinal student dataset

Using a longitudinal national educational dataset, data science methods were applied to explain students’ educational trajectories and determine the most predictive variables in STEM degree attainment. Challenging the notion of the STEM pipeline, an Alternative Pathways to STEM (APS) model was proposed. Using a foundation of Social Cognitive Career Theory, academic, demographic, and economic variables were selected for analysis and Imbalanced dataset and random forest data analytic techniques were implemented. Results supported the consideration of the Alternate Pathways to STEM model given the varied educational pathways identified throughout STEM matriculation. Additionally, multiple academic variables, except for career interest, were found to be most predictive of STEM graduation, while demographic and economic variables were not significant. These findings have important implications for recruiting STEM students and increasing STEM graduation rates. Additional research is recommended using these data extraction and analysis methodologies on other datasets to further test the efficacy of the Alternative Pathways to STEM model.

Examining the Effects of Peer-Led Team Learning as a Support for Community College Transfer Students’ STEM Achievement

Peer-led Team Learning (PLTL) is a model of instruction and learning that has been used to address low success rates in various science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses and other fields in higher education. (1) While research conveying the efficacy of this model of instruction remains mixed, this project sought to add to the body of knowledge communicating the benefits of PLTL for STEM achievement. This study examined the experiences of STEM community college transfer students’ engagement in PLTL within their major course of study when a suite of supports was provided. (2) Specifically, study participants were enrolled in degree programs at a four-year rural, regional university in the engineering, computer science, and mathematics (ECSM) fields and were provided social, financial, and academic assistance. Qualitative analysis of the data revealed that with a PLTL component, community college transfer students were more likely to participate, engage, and perform better in coursework given the additional supports. (3) Study participants indicated the community of learners created through PLTL was a primary motivator for continued engagement and progress towards ECSM degree attainment. (4) Implications for practice extend to engagement and retention efforts of STEM students from the community college population

Characterizing the Adoption and Experiences of Users of Artificial Intelligence-Generated Health Information in the United States: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

OpenAI's ChatGPT is a source of advanced online health information (OHI) that may be integrated into individuals' health information-seeking routines. However, concerns have been raised about its factual accuracy and impact on health outcomes. To forecast implications for medical practice and public health, more information is needed on who uses the tool, how often, and for what. This study aims to characterize the reasons for and types of ChatGPT OHI use and describe the users most likely to engage with the platform. In this cross-sectional survey, patients received invitations to participate via the ResearchMatch platform, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Institutes of Health. A web-based survey measured demographic characteristics, use of ChatGPT and other sources of OHI, experience characterization, and resultant health behaviors. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Both 2-tailed t tests and Pearson chi-square tests were used to compare users of ChatGPT OHI to nonusers. Of 2406 respondents, 21.5% (n=517) respondents reported using ChatGPT for OHI. ChatGPT users were younger than nonusers (32.8 vs 39.1 years, P<.001) with lower advanced degree attainment (BA or higher; 49.9% vs 67%, P<.001) and greater use of transient health care (ED and urgent care; P<.001). ChatGPT users were more avid consumers of general non-ChatGPT OHI (percentage of weekly or greater OHI seeking frequency in past 6 months, 28.2% vs 22.8%, P<.001). Around 39.3% (n=206) respondents endorsed using the platform for OHI 2-3 times weekly or more, and most sought the tool to determine if a consultation was required (47.4%, n=245) or to explore alternative treatment (46.2%, n=239). Use characterization was favorable as many believed ChatGPT to be just as or more useful than other OHIs (87.7%, n=429) and their doctor (81%, n=407). About one-third of respondents requested a referral (35.6%, n=184) or changed medications (31%, n=160) based on the information received from ChatGPT. As many users reported skepticism regarding the ChatGPT output (67.9%, n=336), most turned to their physicians (67.5%, n=349). This study underscores the significant role of AI-generated OHI in shaping health-seeking behaviors and the potential evolution of patient-provider interactions. Given the proclivity of these users to enact health behavior changes based on AI-generated content, there is an opportunity for physicians to guide ChatGPT OHI users on an informed and examined use of the technology.

Disparities in self-reported pain control among cancer survivors.

151 Background: Cancer survivors often suffer from chronic pain. However, not all patients have access to medication and other pain management strategies, making pain control challenging. We aim to determine the association of sociodemographic factors with self-reported pain control in cancer survivors with cancer-related chronic pain. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. Cancer survivors who self-reported physical pain from cancer or treatment were included. Non-melanoma skin cancer survivors were excluded. The outcome of interest was pain control. Univariate analysis with chi-square and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with pain control. Models were adjusted for age, sex, marital status, income, insurance coverage, BMI, smoking status, and cancer site. Results: 1,670 cancer survivors with self-reported cancer-related chronic pain were identified. 9.2% were aged &lt; 40, 61.5% were female, and 71.6% were non-Hispanic white. 97.2% were insured, 50.5% earned ≥ $50,000, and 27.6% were college graduates. 29.8% of survivors reported a history of breast cancer, followed by melanoma (6.3%), and lung cancer (6.1%). Young adults (age 18-39) reported significantly lower pain control compared to older survivors (52% vs. 77.7%, p &lt;0.001). Non-Hispanic Black survivors reported the highest rates of pain control, followed by non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic survivors (87.7% vs. 77.5% vs. 60.6%, respectively, p= 0.013). Employed survivors reported significantly higher pain control than those out of the workforce (83.2% vs. 73.7%, p= 0.008, respectively). College graduates reported better pain control than those without a college degree (82.9% vs. 74.7%, p=0.009, respectively). There was no significant association between pain control and insurance coverage or income. On multivariate analysis, young adults had lower pain control than older adults (OR: 0.454; 95% CI: 0.219-0.942). Compared to non-Hispanic white survivors, being Hispanic was associated with worse pain control (OR: 0.324; 95% CI: 0.142-0.737); no significant association was found for non-Hispanic Black survivors (OR: 1.964; 95% CI: 0.851-4.631). Employment was associated with better pain control (OR: 1.997; 95% CI: 1.235-3.231). College degree attainment was not significantly associated with pain control on multivariate analysis (OR: 1.414; 95% CI: 0.934-2.142). Conclusions: Age, race/ethnicity and employment were associated with pain control among cancer survivors. Young adults, Hispanic and unemployed survivors were most likely to have poor pain control. Further research should elucidate the factors driving these relationships in order to achieve more equitable pain management in this population.

How safe is Autheem therapy for young Saudi infants? A question worth asking.

In Saudi Arabia, a traditional therapy for a folk labeled problem known as "Autheem - " is often offered to infants. The procedure involves manipulating an infant's soft palate to alleviate pain associated with infant colic and poor feeding. However, concerns remain about this procedure's impact on infant health and its potential to transmit infections. This study focused on perceptions that Saudi mothers hold about Autheem therapy. A descriptive, cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted via an online platform to reach Saudi mothers in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. Five hundred and thirty-six Saudi mothers participated; half were older than 30 years of age. Despite a high rate of college degree attainment, the majority of mothers relied on their elders as a source of information (88.4%). Autheem was viewed to be a stand-alone disease by 86.5% of respondents; 71.4% believed it could not be treated with modern medicine. Most infants were under six months of age when they received Autheem therapy (72%). Roughly 13% of mothers found that their infant had a fever after the therapy; we found an association between Autheem therapy and viral illnesses. About 13% of mothers altered their child's vaccination schedule after Autheem therapy. Older mothers have more positive attitudes towards and stronger beliefs in Autheem therapy than younger mothers. The therapy's strong association with viral illnesses and its negative impact on vaccination schedules are major public health concerns.

2-Year or Not 2-Year? The Impact of Starting at Community College on Bachelor’s Degree Attainment

2-Year or Not 2-Year? The Impact of Starting at Community College on Bachelor’s Degree Attainment

Higher Education and Local Educational Attainment: Evidence from the Establishment of U.S. Colleges

Abstract We investigate how the presence of a college affects local educational attainment. As counterfactuals for current college locations, we use historical “runner-up” locations that were strongly considered to become college sites but were ultimately not chosen. We find that winning counties today have college degree attainment rates 56% higher than runner-up counties and more private-sector employment in human-capital-intensive industries. These effects are not driven primarily by recent in-migration of educated adults, and alternative public investments did not have similar effects on local educational attainment. The results indicate that colleges played an important role in shaping long-run local outcomes.

The Effect of Early College High Schools on STEM Bachelor's Degree Attainment: Evidence from North Carolina

Abstract With growing demand for workers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and health care, it is important to assess not only whether education interventions impact educational attainment, but also students’ majors. This study examines the impact of Early College High Schools (ECHSs) on bachelor's degree attainment by field of study using data on four hundred thousand students from North Carolina (7,300 in an ECHS). Using propensity score weighting, I find that ECHSs increase bachelor's degree attainment within ten years of high school entry by 4.7 percentage points (19 percent over baseline), with STEM degree attainment increasing by 1.3 to 2.4 points (18 to 34 percent). However, within STEM and STEM-related fields, ECHSs increase degrees in the natural sciences (1.3 points or 45 percent), math/computer science (0.6 points or 60 percent), and psychology (1.2 points or 57 percent), but have null and directionally negative effects on engineering (−0.1 points or −7 percent) and health care (−0.3 points or −17 percent). Patterns are generally similar across student subgroups, though male students drive increases in computer science/mathematics, whereas female and White students drive decreases in health care. Thus, ECHSs increase STEM degree attainment overall, but more research is needed to examine whether intensive dual-enrollment experiences like the ECHS may create barriers or disincentives to pursuing certain STEM fields.

Employability of bachelor of science in hotel and restaurant management graduates: a tracer study in LSPU Siniloan batch 2014-2021

This research aims to determine the employability of Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management (BSHRM) graduates from LSPU Siniloan, spanning the years 2014 to 2021. Employing a descriptive methodology, the study focuses on unbiased observation and summarization of relevant phenomena, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The sampling technique involves 100 randomly selected respondents from the BSHRM batches, using a modified questionnaire based on the Commission on Higher Education Graduate Tracer Study. The findings present a comprehensive view of the employability landscape. Demographic analysis reveals diverse age, gender, civil status, and geographical distributions among respondents, emphasizing the need for tailored support services. Educational insights highlight the unanimous attainment of undergraduate degrees, with passion for the profession being the primary motivator for choosing the BSHRM course. Post-college training trends show a commitment to skill development, with TESDA NC2 being a key tool. Employment profiles display varied occupational roles, with a majority in the Hotels and Restaurants sector and a significant portion working abroad. Factors influencing career decisions include job retention, academic relevance, and reasons for changing jobs. This research offers valuable insights for educational institutions, employers, and policymakers to improve programs and strategies for BSHRM graduates.

Latent Class Analysis of Dietary Intake and Organic Food Consumption in a Midwest Cohort of Pregnant Individuals

Introduction: The objective of the study was to describe food consumption patterns over the trimesters throughout pregnancy in a prospective obstetric cohort. We planned to characterize patterns of overall food and organic food consumption into groups using a latent class analysis (LCA). Methods: A Midwest pregnancy cohort self-reported dietary food intake and percent of foods of each type that they consumed which were organic on a questionnaire. This was administered multiple times during pregnancy. The food frequency questionnaire was designed for this study and contained questions related to 89 food categories. The questionnaire was completed once in each trimester, after they were enrolled into the study. The cohort has responses across the 13 food domains were grouped by a LCA process demonstrating separation of the cohort by higher or lower consumption of fruits, vegetables, and berries and percentage of those foods where organics were consumed. The organic percentage in each food was categorized as low (0-10%) and significant (anything &gt; 10%). Demographic characteristics were compared between LCA groups. Results: Valid responses were analyzed from 359 participants. The LCA best model grouped participants into 3 groups: I- high fruits, vegetables and berries, with significant organic use; II- high fruits, vegetables, and berries, with low or no organic use; and III- low fruits, vegetables, and berries with low organic use . Using this grouping, there were 84 (23.4%) in Class I, 153 (42.6%) in Class II, and 122 (34.0%) in Class III. There were significant differences in racial distribution in the groups, with lower rates of Caucasians in Class II and higher rates of Hispanic women in reporting Class I. We observed that 50% of African American women were grouped into Class III. Women in class III tended to be younger (p=0.01), unmarried (52.4%, p&lt;0.001), have less than college degree attainment (p=0.0005), be of lower income (p&lt;0.001), and be a current smoker (p=0.03). -While not statistically significant, living in an urban area was higher for those in Class III than in Class I or II. - Participants living in rural areas were reported significant organic food consumption 18.6%, compared to 24.1% of those in suburban areas and 23.1% in urban areas (p=0.36). 23.1% of rural-dwelling participants were grouped in Class III compared to 31.9% of those in suburban areas and 35.3% of those in urban areas. (p=0.36). Conclusion: Self-reported food consumption in this pregnancy cohort was categorized in 3 classes based on consumption of fruits, vegetables, and berries and the percentage of foods consumed that were organic. These Classes were associated with multiple maternal characteristics. This may indicate opportunities for dietary education interventions for pregnant individuals.

Advancing Cancer Workforce Capacity for American Indians and Alaska Natives: The Development of a Validated System to Optimize Trainee Participation and Outcome Tracking.

Although American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students are the most underrepresented group in the U.S. in biomedical and health sciences relative to population size, little is known about long-term research education programs and outcome tracking. For over 20 years, the Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP) has been supported under the National Cancer Institute's (NCI)-funded Comprehensive Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (CPACHE) program. Programming included hands-on mentored research and an array of development opportunities. A validated tracking system combining participation records, institutional records, and enrollment/degree attainment from the National Student Clearinghouse documents outcomes. Collectively (2002-2022) NACP engaged 367 AIAN trainees, of whom 237 individuals earned 220 bachelors, 87 masters, and 34 doctoral/professional degrees. Approximately 45% of AIAN doctoral recipients are currently engaged in academic or clinical work, and 10% in industry or tribal leadership. A total of 238 AIAN students participated in mentored research, with 85% demonstrating strong outcomes; 51% attained a degree, and 34% are currently enrolled. Implementation of a robust tracking system documented acceleration in degree attainment over time. Next steps will evaluate the most impactful training activities on student outcomes.