A Campus-wide Framework to Increase Students’ Academic Success

Project Lead: Shaun Vecera 

Funding Approved: Fiscal Year 22
Project Status: In Progress  
Funded amount: $900,000 over three years 

Learning at Iowa is contributing to progress toward the University of Iowa's goals of improving undergraduate retention and persistence through graduation by helping students learn how to learn. 

The project is focused on implementing the Three Ms for Effective Learning (Mindset, Metacognition, and Memory), a method to promote learning. Members of the Learning at Iowa team have employed a comprehensive strategy to spread the three Ms across campus, reaching an impressive number of students, faculty, and staff since the start of the project.  

The project was extended for an additional year following year three but with no additional funding requested.

Activities to date: 

• Supported student learning by introducing the Learning at Iowa framework during On Iowa!
  • Since 2021, all new incoming students have been introduced to Learning at Iowa and the Three Ms at the On-Iowa Excel Lecture, exposing approximately 24,000 undergraduates to effective learning practices as they transition to the university.
  • The video modules for the required Success at Iowa onboarding course have been viewed approximately 18,000 times since 2022.
• Provided faculty and staff with tools and skills to facilitate learning, including new training and professional development opportunities
  • More than 200 faculty and staff and more than 300 undergraduate student leaders have attended Learning at Iowa presentations or discussions to learn how to implement the framework in their roles.
• Increased enrollment in Learning About Learning course, which helps students feel better prepared for their courses
• Included extensive Learning at Iowa content in the First-Gen Hawks seminar course
  • Over 150 first-generation students in the fall 2023 course received three full class sessions of instruction on mindset, metacognition, and memory, and engage in reflection activities to support their implementation of effective learning strategies in all of their courses.
• Produced additional materials that focus on actionable tips for students to implement the three Ms for effective learning (Mindset, Metacognition, Memory)
  • Provided continuous training to all resident assistants on the Three Ms and how to discuss the Learning at Iowa framework with residents.
  • Used bulletin boards in the residence halls to promote effective learning strategies that students can explore at their own pace
  • As of fall 2023, around 3,500 students living in residence halls discussed using the Three Ms for learning and academic success during floor meetings and "Hawk Talks" with their resident assistants.
  • Over the last two years, approximately 10,000 students have had exposure to effective learning recommendations via bulletin boards and table tents, as well as active engagement with their Resident Assistant in hall meetings and Hawk Talks focused on academic resources.
  • In a fall 2024 survey to students who participated in residence hall floor meetings, 92% of respondents reported they were somewhat familiar with the Three Ms, and 88% reported that they had sometimes or frequently used the recommended learning strategies during the semester.
• Initiated active partnerships with 25 academic departments and student-supporting administrative units across campus
• Collaboratively developed the new position, Metacognitive Mentors, to provide individualized responses to students’ metacognitive reflections in the College Algebra course, allowing the instructor and TAs to focus on course content and ensuring students receive timely feedback on their study strategies.
• The Learning at Iowa team co-presented with a colleague from the College of Engineering Student Success Team, Josh Atcher, at the NACADA Annual Conference in October 2024. The presentation, Learning How to Learn: Preparing STEM Students to Become More Effective Learners, was chosen as a “sponsored session” by both the STEM and the Health Sciences Advising Communities (a very rare honor). Approximately 150 academic advisors from institutions across the country attended the session and gave it an average score of 4.84/5 in the post-conference evaluation. Comments included:
  • “Specific tools and handouts were so comprehensive and easily usable! Loved the language given to explain WHY these strategies are more useful for students - will help in motivating them.”
  • "… please [sic] lease do this session again! This is one of the best sessions I've ever attended.”
  • “Very applicable, needed, well organized, and actionable.”
  • “Engaging presentation. Came away with tools and ideas to implement immediately and share with colleagues.”
• An ICON course was developed to deliver asynchronous, self-guided training for faculty to sustain learning beyond the P3 project’s funding period.
• Numerous newsletter updates and social media posts were developed and implemented in collaboration with CLAS Strategic Communication staff members. These resources are meant to be reutilized at applicable times during the semester.

Next Steps:

With the funding period now closed, project leads have set up mechanisms to sustain and fully integrate into campuswide student success efforts. Partnerships will continue and trainings remain available.