Rethinking Metrics in Higher Ed: Moving Beyond Persistence and Retention

"Rethinking Metrics in Higher Ed: Moving Beyond Persistence and Retention": by Jarek Janio

This article highlights a growing crisis of confidence in higher education, driven by an over-reliance on procedural metrics like retention, persistence, and graduation rates, which fail to address the fundamental question: "What do students actually learn?" While these metrics are easily quantifiable, they do not demonstrate whether students are developing essential skills or emerging as capable, adaptable thinkers. The author calls for a fundamental shift toward measuring student learning outcomes, emphasizing the need to assess competencies and align institutional pr ...