individuals become individuals and not just members of the
“10 o'clock precalc class.”

Agnes Azzolino, Assistant Professor, Mathematics

For further information, contact the author at Middlesex
County College, 155 Mill Road, P.O. Box 3050, Edison, NJ
08818-3050.

Postcards for Student Success

Aware of the high correlation between class atten-
dance and academic success, Vincennes University
implemented a project designed to improve class
attendance. The challenge was to develop a system for
notifying students early when class absences began to
undermine the likelihood of a passing grade. The
criteria were that the system must be effective, imme-
diate, inexpensive, and not labor intensive.

Using the automation capabilities of the mainframe
computer, VU designed a “blue card” which students
were asked to sign during the first day of class. The
card verified a local address, and the student’s signa-
ture allowed the release of academic information.
Instructors would begin classes by discussing the
importance of attendance and explaining that the ”tear-
off” portions of the blue cards would be used to notify
students that the instructor was concerned about their
absences.

When students began to miss class, the instructor
would tear off the first part of a computer-generated
ticket. A 10 keystroke input would generate two
postcards, one to the student’s local address and one to
his permanent address; the cards would indicate
concern over non-attendance. Further absences would
generate a second, more strongly worded postcard. A
third tear-off would generate a letter to the student that
he/she had been dropped for non-attendance and had
received a grade of W or WF. A copy of this letter
would be sent to the Records Office for the permanent
file.

Pilot Test and Results

The system was tested during fall semester 1989. All
reading, English, and mathematics developmental
courses, English composition, and two large occupa-
tional programs (Broadcasting and Law Enforcement)
took part in the pilot study.

A total of 563 first-notification cards were sent,
representing 605 classes. Just under 150 second-
notifications were mailed, and 110 students were
dropped from class for non-attendance. The Dean of
Students (whose name appeared on the card) received
numerous calls from parents, thanking him for the
notification and asking how to contact the instructor.
The president also received numerous positive calls
and letters.

Academic advisors expressed their gratitude. The
system periodically generated for them a list of their
majors who had received attendance notification,
frequently from courses outside the major field of
study—the first time this information had been avail-
able.

Overall, a 2-3% reduction in D/F/WF grades was
realized. The effect was most pronounced in basic
developmental mathematics classes—a 17% decrease in
D/F/WF grades and a 14% increase in A/B/C grades.
The results were significant among classes scheduled at
8:00 a.m. or in the evening—a 4% increase in A/B/C
grades. For the 8:00 a.m. and evening basic develop-
mental math classes, there was a gain of 33% in the
success rate and concurrent decrease of 33% in D/F/
WF grades.

Program Cost

Approximately $500 was spent on this project.
Programming was a one-time internal staff effort;
design and printing of the “blue card” and postcards
totalled $185; the remainder of the cost was postage.

Faculty, for the most part, welcomed the project.
Word of the project spread fast on campus, and many
asked when they could become part of the project.
“Project Bluecard” has been fully implemented with
the 6,000+ full- and part-time students on campus.
Further research will be conducted to determine if
retention and graduation rates appear to be affected, as
well as changes in the proportion of students, espe-
cially freshmen, who find themselves in academic
difficulty.

Jeanne Budig, Research and Planning
Andrea Koenig, Management Information
Tim Weaver, Dean of Students

For further information, contact the authors at
Vincennes University Junior College, Vincennes, IN
47501.

 

Suanne D. Roueche, Editor

November 15, 1991, Vol Xill, No. 28
©The University of Texas at Austin, 1991
Further duplication is permitted by MEMBER
institutions for their own personnel.

INNOVATION ABSTRACTS is a publication of the Natonal Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD),
Department of Educational Administration, College of Education, EDB 348, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
78712, (512) 471-7545. Funding in part by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and the Sid W. Richardson Foundation. Issued weekly
when classes are in session during fall and spring terms. ISSN 0199-106X.

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