Project Lead: Nicholas Bowman 

Funding Approved: Fiscal Year 22
Project Status: Completed  
Funded amount: $114,000 over two years   

The "Examining and Tailoring Academic Policies to Enhance Undergraduate Student Success and Equity" project focused on improving undergraduate student retention and graduation rates at the University of Iowa by examining the impact of academic probation and course placement on student outcomes.

Activities included:

• Compiled and reviewed data related to course placement and academic probation
• Conducted data analysis and held meetings with various UI stakeholders to discuss findings
• Published study of effects of academic probation on four-year graduation
• Published “The Problems with Academic Probation”  op-ed in Inside Higher Ed 
• Developed a final report summarizing project findings and recommendations
• Provided policy recommendations to UI administrators and collegiate leaders based on findings
• Submitted multiple research papers and presentations based on analysis from the project

Next steps:

Findings from the project will be integrated into the work of the Excellence in Teaching and Learning priority of the strategic plan, allowing the university to enact policy and practice changes and conduct additional analyses as needed.