Ad Astra tools deconflict the schedule to improve cross-departmental collaboration

Excited by the possibility of what Ad Astra data could uncover, Bradley assumed the role of site administrator and invited department chairs and program directors across multiple campus centers to participate in two days of Ad Astra training. During this time, attendees saw data demonstrating Degree Velocity ® , pathways, and places where barriers existed for students within the system.

 

“Many of us were horrified at our Degree Velocity® because we don’t realize how long it takes for students to complete if they have barriers.” Bradley said.

 

As a branch of the University of New Mexico system, the institution worked with Ad Astra to input the entire catalog of pathways, including associate of science and associate of arts degrees, applied associate degrees and certificate programs. The work also looked at two- and four-year pathways of what students need to complete from high school to community college and community college to a bachelor’s degree.

 

With these results, the college embarked on a Smart Scheduling ™ project to look at ways to deconflict the schedule at two of its South County rural centers. The goal was to achieve a fully deconflicted schedule for Fall 24, including looking at pathways for the 16-week semester. Project success found enrollment up, a 284% increase in student credit hours because of the deconflicted schedule.
 

Another project within the college’s Gadsen Center explored deconflicting a schedule containing both 8-week mini semester courses and 16-week classes. The result, a small drop in student credit hours, confirmed the hypothesis that students do not do well with a mix of schedules.

 

In Spring 26, the institution will embark on a project to deconflict both main  campus schedules with a goal of seeing an increase in student credit hours and enrollment at the two locations. The institution will also look at DFW rates using the Ad Astra DFW dashboard holistically across programs to build best practices for instructors struggling with DFW rates.

 

Use of Ad Astra data has also assisted the institution with swirling, a term used when students would leave the Doña Ana campus to go to other institutions within the system to take a course. Student Demand Forecasting from Ad Astra advised offering more sections of the popular medical terminology course in its pre-Health Sciences area due to demand. By increasing the number of sections from eight to 13, Doña Ana was able to reduce swirling by limiting the number of students leaving to take the terminology class at another institution within the system.

 

“We couldn’t have done this work without Ad Astra to help us bring together the capabilities of our department chairs and program directors to enhance collaboration on scheduling and to help us increase the success of our students in their pathways,” Bradley said.