Higher education institutions are under growing pressure to improve student retention, progression, and graduation outcomes while making effective use of increasingly complex data sets. This accepted scholarly research presentation explores how Six-Sigma and the DMAIC framework can be applied within higher education to support data-driven decision making and measurable improvement in student success.
Drawing on applied experience at Georgia Southwestern State University, this research examines how tools traditionally used in industry can be adapted to academic environments. The study focuses on a central and persistent question for colleges and universities: why do students leave before completing their degrees? Using the DMAIC process, Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control, the research demonstrates how institutions can move beyond data collection and toward actionable insights that inform meaningful change.
The presentation highlights practical applications of Six-Sigma tools such as process mapping, voice of the customer analysis, control charts, Pareto charts, root cause analysis, dashboards, and performance monitoring. These methods are used to examine the full student journey and identify structural, academic, and support-related factors that influence persistence and completion. The findings suggest that Six-Sigma and DMAIC offer a flexible and scalable framework for addressing complex institutional challenges in higher education.
Designed for faculty, administrators, and institutional researchers, this session emphasizes translating analytics into action. Attendees will gain insight into how data-driven methodologies can be used to design improvement initiatives that are targeted, measurable, and sustainable over time.
Author and Affiliation
Brian Mallett, Georgia Southwestern State University
Join us at the SAM International Business Conference to explore how data-driven frameworks can strengthen student success initiatives. This presentation will be delivered in person, offering opportunities for discussion around real-world applications of Six-Sigma in higher education settings.
Register to attend the conference at www.samnational.org/conference and engage with research focused on improving outcomes across the higher education landscape.