National honor highlights OSU’s student-first approach to measuring success of online learners
Oregon State University Ecampus has earned a prestigious Eduventures Innovation Award for its groundbreaking work in redefining how student success is measured and supported in online education.
Presented annually by Eduventures Research — a leading authority on higher education research and advisory services — the Innovation Awards celebrate institutions that are reshaping the future of education through bold, evidence-based initiatives.
Oregon State Ecampus received the honor in the outcomes award category for its initiative: Utilizing mission, data and policies to define and track online student success metrics. The initiative reflects Oregon State’s deep commitment to student-centered innovation and institutional excellence.
For more than two decades, OSU Ecampus has been a national leader in delivering high-quality learning experiences online. As the nation’s only institution ranked in the U.S. News & World Report top 10 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for each of the past 11 years, Oregon State continues to set the standard for what online education can achieve.
This latest recognition underscores the university’s leadership in creating inclusive, data-informed strategies that reflect the unique needs of online learners.
“Traditional metrics like four- and six-year graduation rates don’t tell the full story for our students,” said Marleigh Perez, the OSU Ecampus senior director of student success. “Our learners are often part time, balancing work, family and other responsibilities. We needed a new framework — one that honors their lived experiences and supports their long-term goals.”
Related: Oregon State earns national honor for its ability to help online learners succeed
OSU Ecampus has won numerous awards related to student success in recent years, including one from Quality Matters for demonstrating “that their learners are achieving success at a high rate.” Read the story »
The Ecampus Student Success Team partnered with internal data analysts to develop a holistic definition of online student success. Drawing from institutional policies, student survey data and national benchmarks, the team created a set of metrics that reflect what success truly looks like for Oregon State’s online learners. These include:
- persistence rates
- course mastery
- academic excellence
- a sense of belonging
- and degree completion.
One key insight came from analyzing the enrollment patterns of OSU Ecampus graduates. The data revealed that students who completed their degrees online rarely took more than one term off in a row. This finding led to a new, more inclusive definition of persistence: enrolling in at least two terms per academic year.
This metric, along with others, is now tracked annually and shared with campus partners to inform support strategies and drive continuous improvement.
Student voices were also central to the initiative. In surveys conducted in 2021 and 2023, students prioritized mastering course content, achieving a healthy work-life-school balance, and maintaining a strong GPA far above graduating “on time.” These insights helped shape a learner-centric model that values steady progress and personal growth over rigid timelines.
“This award is a testament to our values — access, innovation and support — and to the power of listening to Oregon State’s online students,” said Dane Skinner, the OSU Ecampus assistant director of analytics. “We’re proud to lead the way in defining what success means in the evolving landscape of online education.”
