Academic Standing, Probation, and Recovery at Sonoma State University

Last registered on January 15, 2025

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Academic Standing, Probation, and Recovery at Sonoma State University
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0015024
Initial registration date
January 08, 2025

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
January 15, 2025, 5:21 AM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Affiliation
University of Washington

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
Sonoma State University

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2025-01-10
End date
2025-12-19
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Previous work (Lindo et al 2010) has shown that students who are placed on academic probation raise their GPA in the semester immediately following, but also drop out at a higher rate. We test a modified probation letter that foregrounds relevant academic recovery information while also using psychologically attuned language to see if it 1) increases student rates of seeking advising and information; 2) affects use of mechanisms through which students may strategically increase their GPA and maintain enrollment; and 3) prevents the increase in dropouts while maintaining the GPA boost needed to keep students enrolled and moving toward on-time graduation. We examine similar patterns in testing a modified letter sent to academically disqualified students.

External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Andersen, Erik and Michelle Jolly. 2025. "Academic Standing, Probation, and Recovery at Sonoma State University ." AEA RCT Registry. January 15. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.15024-1.0
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2025-01-10
Intervention End Date
2025-12-19

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
We will measure GPA in the quarter after probation, dropout rate. We will also measure variables to test mechanisms such as whether the student used retroactive withdrawal, repeated courses, or changed their major.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We will randomize all students at SSU to either be treated or control before probationary status is determined. Once probationary statuses are set, treated students who go on probation will receive the modified letter, and control students who go on probation will receive the original letter. Treated students on probation will be compared to treated students who didn't go on probation using a regression discontinuity design, and the same will be true for control students. We will compare the two treatment effects by bootstrapping standard errors.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomization will be done on a computer using the randomizr package in R.
Randomization Unit
Randomization will be conducted at the individual level.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
The treatment is not clustered; all students will be at the same school.
Sample size: planned number of observations
We will have approximately 300-500 students on probation as well as the rest of the student body ~5000 people in control.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Half the students on probation will be treated, and half will be control. These will be compared to students not on probation with a regression discontinuity design. The estimated sample size is about 150-250 treated students on probation, and the same control.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Sonoma State IRB
IRB Approval Date
2025-01-08
IRB Approval Number
3335