Office of Institutional Research
Characteristics of Undergraduate Courses with High Failure Rates
by
Bettina J. Huber
Presentation Prepared for CIELO Panel Discussion
D-U-F Grades in the Learning-Centered University
March 9, 2010
Table 1. Percent of High DFU Course Sections* Among All Sections Offered in 2006-07 by GE Status
and Course Level
Type of course
Fall 2006
% DFU
# of sec
Spring 2007
% DFU
# of sec
All Courses
9.5
3,965
9.5
3,923
GE Status
General Education Courses
Other Courses
16.1
5.5
1,512
2,453
15.9
5.8
1,436
2,487
Course Level
Lower Division
Upper Division
14.7
4.9
1,870
2,095
15.1
5.4
1,681
2,242
GE Status and Course Level
General Education Courses
Lower Division
Upper Division
18.4
8.6
1,153
359
18.6
8.4
1,054
382
8.6
4.1
717
1,736
9.1
4.7
627
1,860
Other Courses
Lower Division
Upper Division
* "High DUF Courses" are those in which 30% or more of the students enrolled in a class received D, F, NC, or U
grades.
*Table
"High 1.
DUF
Courses"
are those
in which
30%
or more of
the students
enrolled in
a class received
D, F,by
Percent
of High
DUF
Course
Sections*
Among
All Sections
Offered
in 2006-07
Table 2. Percent of High DFU Course Sections* Among All Sections Offered in 2006-07 by GE Status, Course Level, and College
College
Fall 2006
Arts, Media, and Communication
Business & Economics
Education
Engineering and Computer Science
Health & Human Development
Humanities
Science and Mathematics
Social & Behavioral Sciences
General Education Courses
Lower Division
Upper Division
Total
% DFU # of sec % DFU # of sec % DFU # of sec
12.9
52.2
-15.0
3.5
8.6
36.9
22.8
140
23
40
115
359
274
171
3.4
57.1
-0.0
4.2
7.0
26.7
6.5
58
14
3
48
114
15
107
10.1
54.1
-14.0
3.7
8.2
36.3
16.5
198
37
43
163
473
289
278
Lower Division
% DFU # of sec
1.6
35.4
4.5
18.9
2.1
0.0
14.8
2.7
127
48
22
74
94
109
169
37
Other Courses
Upper Division
% DFU # of sec
0.7
6.8
2.2
8.7
1.9
1.4
12.5
3.9
278
221
92
126
313
211
160
334
Total
% DFU # of sec
1.0
11.9
2.6
12.5
2.0
0.9
13.7
3.8
405
269
114
200
407
320
329
371
All Courses
% DFU # of sec
4.0
17.0
2.6
12.8
2.5
5.3
24.3
9.2
603
306
114
243
570
793
618
649
Total
18.4 1,153
8.6
359
16.1 1,512
8.6
717
4.1
1,736
5.5
2,453
9.5
3,965
* "High
DUFA-2.
Courses"
are those
in which
or more
of the students
enrolled
in a classOffered
received in
D,Spring
F, NC, of
U grades.
Table
Percent
of High
DUF30%
Course
Sections*
Among
All Sections
2007
by GE Status, Course Level, College, and Department
Spring 2007
Arts, Media, and Communication
Business & Economics
Education
Engineering and Computer Science
Health & Human Development
Humanities
Science and Mathematics
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Total
6.0
38.1
-25.7
4.4
11.6
33.5
25.7
133
21
18.6
1,054
35
113
335
260
152
5.0
41.7
-0.0
1.9
8.0
16.7
9.1
60
12
193
33
3.3
32.6
6
52
113
18
121
5.7
39.4
-22.0
3.6
10.7
32.4
18.3
41
165
448
278
273
8.4
382
15.9
1,436
2.1
6.4
13.3
6.1
0.0
15.1
4.2
123
43
20
75
98
64
146
24
10.4
2.1
4.0
11.8
4.2
9.1
627
4.7
* "High DUF Courses" are those in which 30% or more of the students enrolled in a class received D, F, NC, or U grades.
336
236
95
125
341
202
170
354
1,860
2.4
10.4
11.5
3.0
3.0
13.3
4.2
5.8
459
279
115
200
439
266
316
378
2,487
3.4
13.5
13.3
3.1
7.8
22.2
10.1
9.5
652
312
115
241
604
714
594
651
3,923
Table 3. Percent of High DFU Course Sections* Among All Sections Offered in 2006-07 by GE Status, Course Level, and Departments within the Three
Colleges with the Highest Percentage of High DUF Course Sections
College
Fall 2006
Science and Mathematics
Mathematics
Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biology
Business & Economics
Economics
Systems & Operations Management
General Education Courses
Lower Division
Upper Division
Total
% DFU # of sec % DFU # of sec % DFU # of sec
36.9
63.0
24.1
35.5
274
81
54
62
26.7
0.0
-75.0
15
1
52.2
100.0
--
23
11
57.1
57.1
--
14
14
0.0
0.0
--
3
1
Engineering and Computer Science
15.0
Computer Science
16.7
Civil Engineering & Applied Mechanics
-Total
18.4
40
36
1,153
8.6
4
18
2
Business & Economics
Economics
Accounting
38.1
80.0
--
21
10
41.7
41.7
--
12
12
Engineering and Computer Science
25.7
Civil Engineering & Applied Mechanics
-Computer Science
28.1
35
0.0
6
Total
18.6
169
80
4
63
12.5
18.9
18.0
6.3
160
37
50
64
13.7
20.5
20.4
7.9
329
117
54
127
24.3
37.7
22.2
18.1
618
199
108
193
54.1
76.0
--
37
25
0
35.4
-50.0
48
10
6.8
61.5
8.3
221
13
12
11.9
61.5
27.3
269
13
22
17.0
71.1
27.3
306
38
22
14.0
16.2
--
43
37
0
18.9
32.1
33.3
74
28
9
8.7
5.0
6.3
126
20
32
12.5
20.8
12.2
200
48
41
12.8
18.8
12.2
243
85
41
32.4
72.4
17.3
32.2
16.7
50.0
-33.3
3
32
-0.0
2
1,054
8.4
382
All Courses
% DFU # of sec
14.8
21.3
50.0
9.5
1,512
260
74
52
56
Total
% DFU # of sec
289
82
54
66
16.1
33.5
73.0
17.3
32.1
Other Courses
Upper Division
% DFU # of sec
36.3
62.2
24.1
37.9
359
Spring 2007
Science and Mathematics
Mathematics
Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biology
Lower Division
% DFU # of sec
8.6
717
4.1
278
76
52
59
15.1
26.8
40.0
8.2
146
56
5
61
11.8
17.9
16.4
4.8
170
39
55
63
13.3
23.2
18.3
6.5
316
95
60
124
22.2
45.0
17.9
14.8
594
171
112
183
39.4
59.1
--
33
22
0
32.6
-73.3
43
15
6.4
47.1
2.3
236
17
44
10.4
47.1
20.3
279
17
59
13.5
53.8
20.3
312
39
59
22.0
-26.5
41
0
34
13.3
10.0
18.8
75
10
32
10.4
25.0
4.8
125
28
21
11.5
21.1
13.2
200
38
53
13.3
21.1
18.4
241
38
87
15.9
1,436
9.1
627
* "High DUF Courses" are those in which 30% or more of the students enrolled in a class received D, F, NC, or U grades.
Table
Table7.
5.6.Table
Average
Average
4. Number
Percentage
Percentage
andof
of
Percentage
UUor
orD/F
D/FGrades
of
Grades
Highin
in
DUF
All
AllHigh
Sections
HighDUF
DUF
byCouse
Couse
Selected
Sections
Sections
Course
by
byCharacteristics
Term
Termand
andType
Class
GE Status
of
Level
GE
4.7
1,736
1,860
5.5
5.8
2,453
2,487
9.5
9.5
3,965
3,923
Table 4. Number and Percentage of High DFU Course Sections* by Selected Course Characteristics
Characteristic
Course Level
Lower Division
Upper Division
Total
GE Status
General Education course section
Other course section
Total
GE Status and Course Level
General Education Courses
Lower Division
Upper Division
Other Courses
Lower Division
Upper Division
Total
Fall 2006
Percent
Number
Spring 2007
Percent
Number
72.7
27.3
274
103
67.8
32.2
253
120
100.0
377
100.0
373
64.5
35.5
243
134
61.1
38.9
228
145
100.0
377
100.0
373
56.2
8.2
212
31
52.5
8.6
196
32
16.4
19.1
62
72
15.3
23.6
57
88
100.0
377
100.0
373
32.1
78
32.0
73
Type of GE Course
Basic Skills
Mathematics
Oral Communication
Critical Thinking
Expository Writing
Subject Explorations
21.0
3.7
3.3
4.1
65.4
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
Comparative Studies & For. Langs.
Arts & Humanities
Lifelong Learning
History & Government
Total
51
9
8
10
64.5
159
26.7
14.8
8.2
8.6
7.0
24.1
5.3
2.6
0.0
65
36
20
21
17
55
12
6
0
147
19.7
14.9
11.8
9.6
8.3
45
34
27
22
19
2.5
6
3.5
8
100.0
243
100.0
228
Table 4 cont'd.
Characteristic
College
Arts, Media, and Communication
Business & Economics
Education
Engineering and Computer Science
Health & Human Development
Humanities
Science and Mathematics
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Total
Size of Class Section
10 - 19 students
20 - 29 students
30 - 39 students
40 - 49 students
50 - 99 students
100 or more students
Total
Mean section size
Fall 2006
Percent
Number
Spring 2007
Percent
Number
6.4
13.8
0.8
8.2
3.7
11.2
39.9
16.0
24
52
3
31
14
42
150
60
5.9
11.3
0.8
8.6
5.1
15.1
35.5
17.7
22
42
3
32
19
56
132
66
100.0
376
100.0
372
4.5
24.3
33.3
15.6
18.1
4.1
11
59
81
38
44
10
5.7
28.1
27.6
13.2
16.7
8.8
13
64
63
30
38
20
100.0
243
100.0
228
39.7
40.5
* "High DUF Courses" are those in which 30% or more of the students enrolled in a class received D, F, NC, or U grades.
Table 5. Percentage of High DFU Course Sections* in Various Colleges by GE Status, Class Level, and Term
General Education Courses
Lower
Upper
Division
Division
Total
Fall 2006
Arts, Media, and Communication
Business & Economics
Engineering and Computer Science
Health & Human Development
Humanities
Science and Mathematics
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Total
Spring 2007
Arts, Media, and Communication
Business & Economics
Engineering and Computer Science
Health & Human Development
Humanities
Science and Mathematics
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Total
Lower
Division
Other Courses
Upper
Division
Total
All Course Sections
Percent
Number
75.0
23.1
19.4
28.6
73.8
67.3
65.0
8.3
15.4
0.0
14.3
19.0
2.7
11.7
83.3
38.5
19.4
42.9
92.9
70.0
76.7
8.3
32.7
45.2
14.3
0.0
16.7
1.7
8.3
28.8
35.5
42.9
7.1
13.3
21.7
16.7
61.5
80.6
57.1
7.1
30.0
23.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
24
52
31
14
42
150
60
56.6
8.3
64.9
16.4
18.8
35.1
100.0
373
36.4
19.0
28.1
26.3
69.6
65.9
59.1
13.6
11.9
0.0
5.3
16.1
2.3
16.7
50.0
31.0
28.1
31.6
85.7
68.2
75.8
18.2
33.3
31.3
31.6
0.0
16.7
1.5
31.8
35.7
40.6
36.8
14.3
15.2
22.7
50.0
69.0
71.9
68.4
14.3
31.8
24.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
22
42
32
19
56
132
66
52.8
8.7
61.5
15.4
23.0
38.5
100.0
369
* "High DUF Courses" are those in which 30% or more of the students enrolled in a class received D, F, NC, or U grades.
Table 6. Mean Enrollment in High DFU Course Sections* by College and Term
Arts, Media
Business
Engineering
Mean size
& Commun.
& Econ.
& Comp. Sci. Human Dev.
Health &
Science &
Social &
Humanities
Mathematics
Behav. Sci.
Fall 2006
34.3
55.2
24.9
29.1
27.5
42.1
41.9
Spring 2007
39.6
56.6
21.4
33.4
26.9
41.4
53.0
* "High DUF Courses" are those in which 30% or more of the students enrolled in a class received D, F, NC, or U grades.
Table 7. Departments with High DFU Course Sections* Awarding at Least 100 D, F, or U Grades in
Fall 2006 or Spring 2007 by College and Term
Department
Science and Mathematics
Mathematics
Biology
Chemistry
Physics & Astronomy
Fall 2006
No. of
D, F, U
Sections
grades
Offered
Spring 2007
No. of
D, F, U
Sections
grades
Offered
1,515
591
460
208
75
35
24
10
1,410
522
399
98
77
27
20
6
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Sociology
Geography
History
Anthropology
Pan African Studies
Political Science
Psychology
295
247
160
100
148
18
22
13
15
9
5
13
2
1
230
215
276
149
90
206
171
9
14
11
8
9
3
11
Business and Economics
Economics
Accounting
Finance, Real Estate, & Insurance
669
257
100
27
8
4
527
298
173
21
12
2
Humanities
Philosophy
English
186
95
15
10
111
172
11
19
Engineering and Computer Science
Computer Science
Electrical & Computer Engineering
171
86
16
10
156
28
16
4
Health and Human Development
Kinesiology
70
7
168
12
Arts, Media, and Communication
Communication Studies
103
9
32
2
* "High DUF Courses" are those in which 30% or more of the students enrolled in a class received D, F, NC, or U grades.
Table 8. Courses with High DFU Sections* Awarding at Least 110 D, F, or U Grades During the
2006-07 Academic Year by GE Status, Department, and Term
Department and Course
General Education Courses
Mathematics
Math 102 - College Algebra
Math 140 - Introductory Statistics
Math 103 - Mathematical Methods for Business
Math 150A - Calculus I
Math 131 - Mathematical Ideas
Economics
Econ 160 - Principles of Microeconomics
Econ 161 - Principles of Macroeconomics
Econ 310 - Price Theory and Applications
Biology
Biol 100 - Introduction to Biology
Biol 106 - Biological Principles and Lab
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chem 100 - Principles of Chemistry
Chem 101 - General Chemistry I
Chem 102 - General Chemistry II
Geography
Geog 101 - The Physical Environment
Geog 150 - World Geography
Geog 103 - Weather
History
Hist 271 - The United States Since 1865
Hist 270 - The United States to 1865
Other Departments
Comp 100 - Computers: Their Impact and Use
Jour 100 - Mass Communication
PolS 155 - American Political Institutions
Soc 150 - Introductory Sociology
Other Courses
Accounting
Acct 220 - Introduction to Financial Accounting
Acct 230 - Introduction to Managerial Accounting
Mathematics
Math 104 - Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry
Math 150B - Calculus II
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chem 333 - Organic Chemistry I
Chem 334 - Organic Chemistry II
Other Departments
Econ 308 - Economics for Managers
Fin 303 - Financial Management
Fall 2006
No. of
D, F, U
Sections
grades
Offered
Spring 2007
No. of
D, F, U
Sections
grades
Offered
684
332
27
66
51
23
17
2
4
4
377
300
281
70
77
15
14
13
5
6
300
108
64
9
2
4
251
79
66
5
3
4
210
131
11
6
205
76
10
3
127
78
49
7
4
2
80
50
66
5
2
2
79
68
100
5
4
6
82
78
20
6
4
1
54
71
3
3
102
69
2
2
68
51
-198
6
3
0
3
110
68
206
100
9
3
3
3
180
66
5
2
240
52
7
4
112
74
6
5
108
47
6
4
68
77
3
3
79
63
3
3
76
75
5
2
40
173
3
2
* "High DUF Courses" are those in which 30% or more of the students enrolled in a class received D, F, NC, or U grades.
Table 9. Mean Percentage of D, F, or U Grades Awarded in High DUF Course Sections* by Term and Type
of GE Course
Percent
U grades
Fall 2006
Basic Skills
10.3%
Mathematics
Expository Writing
Oral Communication
Critical Thinking
Subject Explorations
Total
Spring 2007
Basic Skills
Mathematics
Expository Writing
Critical Thinking
Oral Communication
Percent
F Grades
13.9%
13.4%
3.5%
0.0%
10.8%
5.4%
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
Arts & Humanities
Comparative Studies & For. Langs.
Lifelong Learning
History & Government
Percent
D grades
23.0%
13.5%
10.0%
17.6%
17.8%
16.2%
4.5%
4.5%
6.7%
7.1%
7.2%
Percent
DFU
47.3%
25.1%
25.3%
21.0%
9.3%
18.4%
16.4%
18.4%
15.4%
14.4%
13.6%
Number of
Sections
78
52.0%
38.8%
38.6%
37.9%
40.0%
18.7%
19.1%
17.8%
17.1%
17.8%
51
10
9
8
159
39.6%
42.0%
39.9%
38.7%
38.7%
65
36
21
20
17
0.4%
17.5%
25.6%
43.4%
6
6.9%
15.5%
20.0%
42.4%
243
10.1%
14.2%
25.5%
49.8%
73
11.8%
5.0%
4.9%
16.1%
8.5%
8.3%
24.7%
26.4%
30.6%
52.6%
39.9%
43.8%
55
--
--
--
--
0
7.6%
History & Government
0.8%
19.7%
21.3%
41.8%
8
8.1%
14.8%
20.0%
43.0%
228
4.8%
8.0%
11.1%
8.3%
7.6%
17.3%
14.8%
18.1%
12.6%
13.4%
13.5%
39.6%
6
Subject Explorations
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
Comparative Studies & For. Langs.
Arts & Humanities
Lifelong Learning
Total
14.8%
12
18.2%
16.0%
14.1%
16.1%
23.4%
147
37.7%
42.1%
37.8%
37.8%
44.5%
45
34
27
22
19
* "High DUF Courses" are those in which 30% or more of the students enrolled in a class received D, F, NC, or U grades.
Figure 1. Mean Percentage of D, F, or U Grades Awarded in High DUF Course Sections
by Section Size (Fall 2006)
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
10 - 19
20 - 29
30 - 39
D grades
40 - 49
F Grades
50 - 99
100 plus
U grades
Figure 2. Mean Percentage of D, F, or U Grades Awarded in High DUF Course Sections
by Section Size (Spring 2007)
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
10 - 19
20 - 29
30 - 39
D grades
40 - 49
F Grades
50 - 99
U grades
100 plus