To inform education practices and policies, the WTCS institutional research team conducts action research projects. An action research project analyzes a specific question (or set of questions) to provide insight that is actionable for improving student success and closing student equity gaps. We then share the results through professional learning with WTCS stakeholders so colleges can take action to improve educational outcomes for all students.
Here are links to the action research briefs, each of which provides a short summary of each project and key findings.
Action Research Papers
Adult Education participation: trends, change agents and strategies to maximize impact (July 2023)
Supporting student and employee mental health using evidence-based practices (January 2023)
Students more likely to graduate in associate degree programs that require 60 credits (January 2022)
Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic: enrollments across the Wisconsin Technical College System (May 2022)
Wisconsin’s equity informed approach to expanding Integrated Education and Training access (March 2022)
Early impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the Wisconsin Technical College System (June 2021)
A reflection of WTCS Student Success Center progress and data-informed next steps (January 2021)
Strategies to increase the concentration of students in nontraditional occupations (January 2021)
WTCS Career Pathways: a mechanism to advancing workforce and economic equity (January 2021)
Understanding Measurable Skill Gains: identifying factors associated with student success (January 2021)
Success in and timing of a student’s first math enrollment influences graduation in identified programs (January 2021)
Equity in WTCS Dual Credit participation (January 2021)
Minoritized students are more often enrolled in programs that lead to lower wages (April 2020)