The Proof is in the Impact

Every ACUE Partnership Is Unique, But All Have Something in Common: Measurable Impact

A robust and growing body of impact studies speaks to the transformative effects of ACUE certification on faculty, students, and institutions. 

From Student Success to Retention and Beyond, the Impact of ACUE Certified Faculty is Undeniable

  • Institution Type

  • Public/Private

  • Conference

  • Location

  • Impact Type

  • Special Designation

Waubonsee Community College logo

Positive Impact of ACUE Certified Faculty on Students' Completion Rates at Waubonsee Community College

Analyses show significant effects on students’ likelihood of completing their courses when taught by ACUE Certified faculty.

First-Year Retention Rates Higher for Students of ACUE Faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi

Students return in year two at higher rates after taking at least one course by ACUE faculty in their first year.

Microcredential Course in Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Online Learning Environment

In partnership with institutions of higher education nationwide, ACUE supports and credentials faculty members in the use of evidence-based teaching practices that drive student engagement, retention, and learning.

ACUE Student Survey Shows No Evidence of Bias

Analysis shows no association between faculty gender or race/ ethnicity and student survey ratings.

ACUE-Certified Faculty Spur Improvements in Students’ Passing Rates, DFW Rates, and Grades

Students more likely to pass, less likely to receive DFW grades, and earn modestly higher grades when taught by ACUE-certified faculty.

Texas Woman's University Logo

Improved Student Grades at Texas Woman’s University

Students experienced an uptick in final grades when taught by ACUE faculty in the year after they earned their ACUE credential.

Students have Better Academic Outcomes When They Take More Courses with ACUE Instructors

Significant positive relationship with GPA, course completion, passing, and success with larger correlations with passing and success for Black students.

Students Taking Gateway Courses with ACUE Faculty Have Lower DFW Rates in Subsequent Courses

Significant differences between ACUE and non-ACUE faculty in DFW Rates.

Meta Analysis Report: The ACUE Effect Invest in Effective Teaching, Expect Student Success

In 2022, ACUE’s research team partnered with Northwestern University’s Elizabeth Tipton, PhD, a leading scholar in the field of meta-analysis, to pinpoint the average effect of ACUE faculty on student course outcomes that could be expected at any type of institution.

“For leaders to make the best decisions for their campus and students, they need to have solid data available. This analysis provides the kind of evidence that should inform such important assessments about student success efforts.”

– Dr. Elizabeth Tipton, Northwestern University

What ACUE Partners Can Expect on Average:

3 percent point decrease in DFW rates
1 percentage point increase in course completion rates
.06 Point Increase in Students' Average Course Grades (on a 4.0 scale)

What Could Be The ACUE Effect At Your Institution?

The meta-analysis examined student impact studies across eight ACUE partner institutions in the course Effective Teaching Practices, which ensures that faculty learn about—and implement—the approaches that improve student engagement and persistence and promote deeper learning. These institutions include two-year and four-year colleges and universities, varying in size and geographic location.

Impact of Pedagogy

“Broward College relentlessly seeks to elevate our faculty capacity and skills so that they can create a more inclusive learning environment and transform students’ lives, and the ACUE meta-analysis reveals just that.”

Gregory Adam Haile, President, 
Broward College

higher education pedagogy

“Our ACUE partnership has led to a real return on investment: higher student retention and course completion, lower DFW rates, and narrowing equity gaps. Good teaching needs to be at the heart of every college and university’s student success agenda.”

Amy Chasteen, Executive Vice Provost,
The University of Southern Mississippi

college student success

“There is more to the story than enriched student learning: participation in ACUE’s courses equipped our faculty with valuable skills that built their confidence, fostered overall job satisfaction, and enhanced their enjoyment of teaching.”

Dr. Jörg Waltje, Executive Director of the Center for Faculty Excellence, Texas Woman’s University

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Read the Meta-Analysis report

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The ACUE Effect Blog Post

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Read the press release

Colleges and Universities Included in Sample

Note: The numeric value in parentheses that succeeds some college names indicates the number of evaluations conducted with the school.

Partner Highlights

Delivering learner outcomes nationwide

Together with our partners – hundreds of colleges and universities around the country – we’re constantly measuring and using what we learn to evolve and improve our courses and microcredentials so faculty have the best chance of impacting students. We’re proud of the mark ACUE faculty are making on higher education. 

At the University of Southern Mississippi,

students who took at least one course taught by an ACUE instructor returned in significantly higher numbers to USM in the next academic year by 4 percentage points.

At Rutgers
University Newark,

students taught by ACUE-credentialed instructors had significantly higher completion rates compared to students who were taught by comparison instructors, and they were significantly more likely to earn A, B, or C grades.

At Miami Dade University,

a study by the Center for Research and Reform in Education (CRRE) at Johns Hopkins University confirmed stronger engagement among students taught by ACUE-credentialed faculty. GPAs improved by 0.19 to above 3.0, across 100 courses taught by ACUE-credentialed faculty, enrolling 6,100 students.

Nationwide,

a typical ACUE faculty member at any partner institution implements over 28 proven teaching approaches and makes plans to implement at least 55 more.