Provisional Admission Practices: Blending Access and Support to Facilitate Student Success
Author: Nichols, Andrew Howard
Date: 2013-04-00
Type: Reports - Research
Subjects: College Admission,College Programs,Academic Support Services,Transitional Programs,Summer Programs,Grouping (Instructional Purposes),Tutoring,College Students,Economically Disadvantaged,Access to Education,Public Colleges,Private Colleges,Mixed Methods Research,School Surveys

This report examines provisional admission as an initiative that can expand four-year college access and success for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Provisional admission policies and programs enable students to enroll at an institution under specific conditions. Students are often required to meet certain academic performance requirements, such as credit hour or GPA thresholds, and participate in academic support services. In this report, a mixed methods approach is used to provide a solid foundational understanding of provisional admission practices. Findings from the survey suggest that provisional admission may be an overlooked and underutilized initiative at many four-year colleges and universities, particularly public institutions. Fewer than three out of five survey respondents (57%) reported having a provisional admission program. Additionally, these programs were found to help academically underprepared students persist to the second year at equal rates to their peers with stronger academic profiles upon enrollment. Despite being considered academically underprepared upon enrollment, more than seven out of ten students in these programs complete the first year. The qualitative analysis from the data collected on the institutional site visits revealed that provisional admission programs helped: (1) Promote postsecondary access to four-year institutions; (2) Strengthen students' academic skills; (3) Develop students' study and time management skills; (4) Build students' confidence; and (5) Develop relationships between students and their peers and institutional staff and faculty. Additionally, the authors discovered that three distinct provisional admission models were being used by the colleges and universities they visited. One model involved the use of a cohort-based curricular instruction model that supported students during the first year. Other schools either used a summer bridge experience model or a supplemental tutoring-based model. They found that the provisional admission programs were all quite distinct and tailored to meet both the goals and needs of students and the institution. Although the authors recommend the use of provisional admission programs, they hesitate to suggest a specific model. Programs should be designed to meet institutional needs and resources. Thus, they offer the following eight elements that provisional admission programs should include and support: (1) Academic support; (2) Clearly outlined policies and requirements; (3) Faculty involvement; (4) Early contact with students; (5) Engagement within the larger student community; (6) Student performance monitoring; (7) Extended contact with students; and (8) Program evaluation. Appended are: (1) References; and (2) Institutional Pell Grant Data. (Contains 7 tables, 10 figures and 14 footnotes.)