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CCHE Quality Indicator System
Results for CU-Boulder, Fall 2002

Due to state budget shortages, there will be no funding for performance under the Quality Indicator Standards (QIS) for the 2003-04 fiscal year. However, the final point tallies that would have been used if there had been funds to allocate, are summarized here. For information on how QIS funding worked last year, see CCHE Quality Indicator System Results for CU-Boulder, Fall 2001.

CU-Boulder received 108.14% of "possible" or "base" points. This places CU-Boulder fifth (out of the 11 four-year schools) this funding period. Metro received the highest percentage at 117.81%, followed closely by Mesa, and then UCD and CSU. UNC was close behind CU-Boulder at 108.00% Some two-year schools received even higher percentages, with Morgan CC at the top with 128.14%. All but 5 of the fifteen two-year schools received higher percentages than CU-Boulder.

In the past, CU-Boulder has scored considerably better on QIS than other institutions in Colorado. However, for the current funding period, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) made considerable changes to the methods used for scoring. The main change was to put increased weighting or emphasis on improvement points, making the scoring not only a function of overall performance relative to benchmarks but also a function of change from the prior year. Obviously, it is more difficult for an institution already performing at a high level to score as well on improvement. For details on funding points, see CU-Boulder QIS Funding Points - February 2003 Report (Excel).

Boulder's QIS funding will be determined by the Board of Regents. The Regents' allocation will depend upon a) the points earned by CU-system schools (Boulder, Denver, and Colorado Springs only) relative to other state institutions, and b) the total amount CCHE receives and designates for performance funding. The CU-system will receive 25.83% of the entire QIS amount, vs. 26.19% had all schools state-wide scored exactly at base. Thus the CU-system will earn 1.4% less for performance than if all schools had scored the same. If the Regents' allocation to CU schools follows the CCHE allocation method, CU-Boulder will receive 1.7% less than we would have if all state institutions had scored exactly at base.

See the summary below for more detail on the individual measures for CU-Boulder, including information about CU-Boulder performance relative to benchmarks and to other public institutions in the state (except Colorado School of Mines, no longer under QIS).

Tables of detailed results are also available (in Excel).

Measures 1, 2, and 3 all relate to graduation and retention rates - at the original institution or statewide, for all freshmen or minority only.

• Benchmarks for rates at the original institution are 102% of the predicted rate for the institution given entering-student academic preparation and national norms, plus or minus 2 percent points
• Benchmarks for rates at any Colorado public are, per CCHE, "Most recent two years. If increasing, highest rate. If decreasing, average rate."

Graduation and one-year retention rates of full-time first-time freshmen at the original institution. Benchmarks come from national data, given cohort test scores, percent time, and percent living on campus. For the QIS report issued January 2003, benchmarks are set at 102% of expected rates, plus or minus 2 percentage point. Except for one-year retention, CU-Boulder meets all benchmarks with rates at or among the highest in the state.

• All freshmen: 4, 5, and 6-year graduation rates highest in the state. Meet benchmarks for 4-, 5- and 6-year rates.
• All freshmen: Retention rate highest in state. Under benchmark.
• Minority freshmen: 6-year graduation rate (the only one used) is second highest in the state. Under benchmark.
• Minority freshmen: Retention rate 0.4 points under CSU’s high. Meet benchmark.

Graduation and one-year retention rates of full-time first-time freshmen at any Colorado public institution (not only the original institution). This measure is designed to acknowledge the role of transfer among 4-year institutions. Students graduating from institutions outside Colorado are not counted. This is a non-standard measure, so benchmarks come from internal Colorado comparisons. CU-Boulder exceeds benchmarks on 2 measures, is under benchmark on 4, with graduation rates the highest in the state except for minority 6-year rate.

• All freshmen: 4, 5, and 6-year graduation rates highest in the state. Exceed benchmarks for 5-year rate; under benchmark for 4- and 6-year rates.
• All freshmen: Retention rate under CSU’s high. Under benchmark.
• Minority freshmen: 6-year graduation rate (the only one used) is second highest in the state. Exceed benchmark.
• Minority freshmen: Retention rate under CSU’s high. Under benchmark.

Measure 4, Achievement scores on licensure, professional, graduate school admission, and other examinations taken by seniors and graduates

• Tests for CU-Boulder: GRE (3 parts), CPA, and four content areas of the Program for Licensing Assessments for Colorado Educators (PLACE).
• We meet 3 benchmarks, exceed 6. Benchmarks are state or national averages.
• We are highest in the state on all parts of the GRE, CPA, and on four of five PLACE exams.

Measure 5, Institutional support expenditures (administrative costs) per student FTE. Benchmark from a set of public institutions with similar enrollment.

• CU-Boulder’s $1,023 is only 59% of benchmark (good because lower costs per student are desirable).
• Cost per SFTE at other 4-year schools range from $489 to $1246.

Measure 6, Undergraduate class size. Benchmarks from public institutions nationwide, selected by CCHE.

• 46% of CU-Boulder undergraduate classes have fewer than 20 students. This is the highest among all Colorado public universities (vs. colleges), and exceeds the benchmark of 40-42%.
• 14% of CU-Boulder undergraduate classes have 50 or more students. This is well under CSU and UNC but still exceeds the benchmark of 12%.

Measure 7, Faculty Instructional Workload.

• CU-Boulder faculty average 6.4 hours per week in the classroom, with additional time in preparation, grading, advising, supervision of individualized instruction, curriculum planning, and the like. CU-Boulder's 6.4 hours per week exceeds the 6.0 hours per week reported for the University of Wisconsin at Madison for fall 2000 (most recent available) in "Achieving Excellence, the University of Wisconsin System Accountability Report 2001-02." Below benchmark of 7.8

Measures 8 and 9 are specified by the institution and don't count in performance funding. For CU-Boulder see

• Measure 8, Undergraduate participation in special academic opportunities
• Measure 9, State appropriations for undergraduate programs, per resident bachelor’s degree

Last revision 03/28/06