An Algorithm to Improve Outcomes for Students and Universities

Students live in a BIG DATA world. Every day, every semester, information is collected about their experiences. Grades, social networks, financial transactions, surveys, even attendance tracking are all important parts of this data ecosystem that universities create.

How might we leverage these observations to generate actionable insights that improve outcomes for both students and the university? Working alongside the University of Oklahoma's team of retention experts, Dr. Jacob Dearmon developed an algorithm targeted at improving retention by identifying at-risk students and generating individualized scholarship amounts using a novel BUSINESS OBJECTIVE based on the twin metrics of retention and financial sustainability. He'll discuss the DATA SCIENCE behind this scholarship allocation effort.

Dr. Dearmon has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Economics. He is a professor at Oklahoma City University and serves as the Director of the Ronnie K. Irani Center for Data Analytics. His academic research has focused on the development and application of machine learning methods to spatial problems. His consulting work is more wide ranging, having worked in industries such as energy, banking, higher education, and government with tasks ranging from explanation to uncertainty analysis to prediction.

Free event with free food! Don't forget we'll be in our BRAND NEW MEETUP LOCATION, the new Exaptive office:

124 NW 12th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73103

Plenty of free parking in the new Exaptive parking lot.