Analyzing Equity Gaps Using the Dashboard

Equity gaps refer to the opportunity gaps faced by marginal groups which interfere with equitable learning experiences and outcomes for our students.  These gaps are often measured by gathering data about student academic success, such as course grades or graduation rates.  By using Chico State’s Grades and Equity Gaps Dashboard, we may explore grade data and measured equity gaps from our own courses in order to reflect on our practices and plan efforts to address inequities of opportunity for our students.

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• RESEARCH

  Examine selected research on equity gaps: 

  Cahalan, M., Perna, L., Yamashita, M., Wright-Kim, J., Jiang, N.  (2019).  2019 Indicators of higher education equity in the United States: Historical trend report.  Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education. https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/96092(opens in new window)

  Fain, P.  (2020). Higher education and work amid crisis.  Inside Higher Education. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/06/17/pandemic-has-worsened-equity-gaps-higher-education-and-work(opens in new window)

  Barton, P.  (2004).  Why does the gap persist?  Educational Leadership.  62(3) 8-13. http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/nov04/vol62/num03/Why-Does-the-Gap-Persist%C2%A2.aspx(opens in new window)

  Cahalan, M., Perna, L.  (2015). Indicators of higher education equity in the United States: 45 year trend report.  Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED555865(opens in new window)

  Schmidt, W., Burroughs, N., Zoido, P., & Houang, R. (2015). The Role of Schooling in Perpetuating Educational Inequality: An International Perspective. Educational Researcher,44(7), 371-386. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24571334(opens in new window)

  Lorah, J., Ndum, E.  (2013).  Trends in achievement gaps in first-year college courses for racial/ethnic, income, and gender subgroups: A 12-year study.  ACT, Inc. http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/ACT_RR2013-8.pdf (PDF)

• APPLICATION

  Ready to apply what you’ve learned from your faculty dashboard data to your teaching? Here are some ideas and strategies to get you started:

  1. Explore the Grades & Equity Gaps Dashboard (Install VPN Client(opens in new window) if necessary)
  2. Explore some of the resources available on the Grades & Equity Gaps Dashboard webpage to better understand the meaning of this data.
  3. Choose a course from your dashboard, examine the dashboard data for that course, and reflect on what practices or policies from the course you believe help support student success or may act as barriers to success.
  4. Review your syllabus and classroom policies to determine possible barriers to students of various backgrounds. Some areas on which to reflect:
     1. What are the financial costs associated with the course?
     2. What institutional knowledge is required of students to be successful (i.e. navigating departments, programs, or systems on campus)?
     3. What time commitments are required of my students, in particular those with jobs, family commitments, physical or mental health needs, etc?
     4. What free and available resources do I permit, encourage students to use on assignments and assessments?