The Effective Practices in Student Success (EPSS) database is designed to solicit information from programs that encourage students to succeed in postsecondary education, especially those who are historically underrepresented in higher education.
Program information will be carefully reviewed by a team of reviewers and then entered into an online database that users can search for solutions that, in turn, may help them at their institution.
Rather than openly select all programs, the EPSS will look for programs that have exhibited—and documented—success in retaining students toward graduation. Once the original online submission is received by EPI, a team will review the information. A decision will be made whether to (a) reject the submission, (b) accept the program, or (c) accept the program on a conditional basis for inclusion into the EPSS database. Those that receive a conditional rating will be required to submit further information or clarify their submission. At that point, the review committee will again review the submission and make its decision.
Through this process, the EPSS will hopefully raise the bar to what programs are considered truly “successful” via the type of information used to garner their success. While we hope that many programs are heavily scrutinized by the institution, we understand that most are not true experiments in design. We wish to offer users of the EPSS a window to exceptional programs that have some level of evidence to prove their success.