METRICS

The Index of Course Efficiency (ICE)

The goal of PR-LSAMP since its inception has been to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SMET) courses. To measure this, a set of metrics was developed and implemented by PR-LSAMP institutions. These metrics included: SMET retention and graduation rates, average number of years to complete a baccalaureate degree, entry into graduate SMET programs, and the Index of Course Efficiency (ICE).

The Index of Course Efficiency was defined as the average number of times students must take a course to satisfactorily pass it with a grade of “C” or above. The ICE allows the institution to determine which courses presented significant problems to a specific cohort of students, as evidenced by the percent of failures and number of times they had to repeat them in order to pass them. The relative ease or difficulty for students of successfully repeating problem courses, offers valuable insights as the relative impact of the problem courses, and the cost to the institution of these problem courses. The ICE is a valuable tool to identify the principal problem areas of the SMET programs for institutional academic managers to act upon.

The Index of Course Efficiency (ICE) – A Brief Presentation