Student Achievement

Sam Houston State University (SHSU) identifies, evaluates, and publishes outcomes for student achievement appropriate to the institution's mission, the nature of the students the institution serves, and the kinds of programs the institution offers.  Multiple measures are used by the institution to measure student success.  SHSU's undergraduate profile is identified by the Carnegie Classification of the Institutions of Higher Education as being a four-year, full-time, selective, higher transfer-in institution.  Furthermore, SHSU has historically attracted a high percentage of at-risk students as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

Enrollment

Outcome Criteria Target Results
Continue to Grow the SHSU Student Body 1-year % Change in University Enrollment, Tracked Annually 3% Annual Growth in Overall University Enrollment University enrollment is regularly tracked and reported by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Criteria data for this outcome were derived from the Fall 2016 Institutional Fact Book. From Fall 2015 to Fall 2016, total student enrollment increased 2.23%, from 20,031 students to 20,477.  This percentage increase did not meet the target of 3% but still represented healthy institutional growth.

Promote Enrollment of Underserved Students Within Undergraduate and Graduate Populations

1-year % Change in Undergraduate and Graduate Student Enrollment Totals by Race, Tracked Annually

 Underserved Student Enrollment Will Increase from Year-to-Year University enrollment, by race, is regularly tracked and reported by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Criteria data for this outcome were derived from the Fall 2016 Institutional Fact Book. The target for this outcome were partially met. From fall 2015 to fall 2016, undergraduate enrollments for underserved students (African American, American Indian, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander) were flat or increased. For graduate students, enrollments of African American and American Indian students decreased, while enrollments of Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander Students increased.
Promote Closing Enrollment Gaps of Underserved Students in Undergraduate and Graduate Populations Longitudinal Comparisons of Underserved Student Enrollment, Tracked Annually The University Will Continue to Close Gaps in Underserved Student Enrollment, in Comparison to White Students University enrollment, by race, is regularly tracked and reported by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Criteria data for this outcome were derived from the Fall 2016 Institutional Fact Book. The target for this outcome were met. From fall 2014 to fall 2016, the gap between White and non-White undergraduate student enrollment closed from 8% in fall 2014 (54% White to 46% non-White) to 2.73% (51.30% White to 48.7% non-White). Gains, though smaller, were seen for graduate students, with the gap between White and non-White graduate student enrollment closing from 18.44% in fall 2014 (59.22% White to 40.48% non-White) to 15.38% in fall 2016 (57.79% White to 42.41% to non-White). A detailed breakdown of student enrollment percentages, by race, are provided here.

Student Success

Outcome Criteria Target Results
Promote Student Retention and Completion Comparisons of Overall Persistence/Retention Rate of All Freshman Students After One Academic Year 79% of Students Will Persist/Be Retained After One Academic Year Overall persistence/retention of first-time, fulltime, degree seeking undergraduates is tracked and reported regularly to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.  The target for this criteria was not met for FY 2017, with the overall 1-year persistence/retention rates for freshman students standing at 77%. Although the target was not met, this rate exceeded the average rate for the Texas State University System (74.7%), of THECB Accountability Comparison group (70.5%), and is on par with the overall average for public institutions in the state of Texas (77.9%).
Comparisons of Overall Persistence/Retention Rate of Freshman Students When Compared by Race 79% of Underserved Students Will Persist After One Academic Year Overall persistence/retention of first-time, fulltime, degree seeking undergraduates is tracked and reported regularly to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.  The target for this criteria was not met for FY 2017, with the persistence/retention rates for Hispanics and Blacks falling below 79%.  Disaggregated data were not available for other individual racial groups.  The persistence rate for Black students (78%) approached the target, and equaled that of White students (78%); however, the persistence rate for Hispanic students lagged further behind at 75%.
Percentage of Semester Credit Hours (SCH) Completed Students Will Successfully Complete 96% of SCH Successful completion of SCH is tracked and reported regularly to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.  For FY 2017, SHSU students achieved the target of completing 96% of SCH.  Additionally, this rate represents an increase in SCH completion over each of the last five academic years (FY 2012 – 94%, FY 2013 – 95%, FY 2014 – 94%, FY 2015 – 95%, FY 2016 – 95%).
Promote Success of At-Risk Students Percentage of Unprepared Students Who Satisfy Their Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Math, Reading, and Writing Obligations within Two Years The Percentage of Underprepared Students Satisfying Their TSI Math, Reading, and Writing Obligations within Two Years Will Exceed State and Doctoral Comparison Group Averages Data regarding student completion of TSI requirements within two years are gathered from the THECB Accountability system and are available through this system for the last three student cohorts (2012, 2013, 2014).  This target has been met.  For each of the last three cohorts SHSU students exceeded the average Math, Reading, and Writing TSI completion rates when compared to all public institutions in Texas, as well as the average rate for SHSU’s Doctoral Comparison Group.  A detailed breakdown of student TSI completion rates is provided.

Post-Graduation Success

Outcome Criteria Target Results
Promote Timely Student Graduation Percentage of First-Time, Full-Time, Degree-Seeking Undergraduates Who Earn a Baccalaureate Degree Within Four Years of Their Entrance as Undergraduates 30% of Students Will Graduate in 4 Years The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates who earn a baccalaureate degree within four years is gathered and reported to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.  For fiscal year 2017, graduation rate for the 2013 entering cohort was 33%, exceeding the set target.  Additionally, this rate exceeded that of SHSU’s Doctoral Comparison Group (22.4%), and was similar to that of all public, Texas universities (33.6%).  This strongly indicates that SHSU is experiencing success in graduating students in 4-years.


Percentage of First-Time, Full-Time, Degree-Seeking Undergraduates Who Earn a Baccalaureate Degree Within Six Years of Their Entrance as Undergraduates		 55% of Students Will Graduate in 6 Years The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates who earn a baccalaureate degree within six years is gathered and reported to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.  For fiscal year 2017, graduation rate for the 2011 entering cohort was 52%, not meeting the set target.  However, this rate did exceed that of SHSU’s Doctoral Comparison Group (39.3%), and was similar to that of all public, Texas universities (52.8%) and indicates that SHSU is experiencing success in graduating students in 6-years.
Comparisons of the Percentage of First-Time, Full-Time, Degree-Seeking Undergraduates Who Earn a Baccalaureate Degree Within Four Years of Their Entrance as Undergraduates by Ethnicity 30% of Underserved Students Will Graduate in 4 Years The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates who earn a baccalaureate degree within four years is gathered and reported to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.  Disaggregated data are available for White, Black, and Hispanic students, with all other students being grouped together in the category of “Other.”  For fiscal year 2017, this target was partially met.  The 4-year graduation rate for the 2013 entering cohort of White students was 36%.  In comparison, the rate for Black students 25%, the rate for Hispanic students was 34%, and the rate for “Other” students was 37%.
Longitudinal Comparisons of the Percentage of First-Time, Full-Time, Degree-Seeking Undergraduate Who Earn a Baccalaureate Degree Within Six Years of Their Entrance as Undergraduates by Ethnicity 55% of Underserved Students Will Graduate in 6 Years The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates who earn a baccalaureate degree within four years is gathered and reported to the LBB by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.  Disaggregated data are available for White, Black, and Hispanic students, with all other students being grouped together in the category of “Other.”  For fiscal year 2017, this target was partially met.  The 6-year graduation rate for the 2011 entering cohort of White students was 54.7%.  In comparison the rate for Black students was 44%, the rate for Hispanic students was 52%, and the rate for “Other” students was 55%.
SHSU Students Will be Prepared for Professional Practice Longitudinal Comparison of Annual Passage Rates for the Teacher Certification Exam 90% of All Students Will Pass the Teacher Certification Exam Overall passage rates for the Teacher Certification Exam have exceeded the locally-developed target of 90% for the last four fiscal years (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017).  Additionally, the overall passage rates have exceeded the state requirement of an 80% overall passage rate of 80% as outlined in Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 229, Rule 229.4.  For the most recent fiscal year, the overall passage rate for SHSU was 92.88%.  When these data were disaggregated by gender, male (92.86%) and female (92.88%) passage rates were nearly identical.  When disaggregated by race, differences in student performance did appear.  The passage rate for White students was 95.72%, while the passage rates for Hispanic and Black students were lower, standing respectively at 89.47% and 78.13%.
Longitudinal Comparison of Annual Passage Rates for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for First-Time Test Takers 80% of All Students Will Pass the NCLEX Exam In accordance with the Rules and Regulations Relating to Nurse Education, Licensure and Practice of the Texas Board of Nursing, Rule §214.4.b.1.H states that “failure to maintain an 80% passing rate on the licensing examination by first-time candidates” can jeopardize program approval (see page 123).  For 2017, SHSU exceeded this target with a passage rate of 92.13%.  Passage rates for SHSU students have exceeded 80% for four of the last five years (2013 – 87.5%, 2014 – 73.91%, 2015 – 88.06%, 2016 – 89.55%, 2017 – 92.13%).