Case Study: The University of North Georgia achieves significantly higher online grades for first-time undergraduates with SmarterServices' SmarterMeasure

Providing Targeted Support for First-Time Online Undergraduate Students

The University of North Georgia (UNG) Online faced a surge of first‑time undergraduate students after expanding undergraduate offerings and becoming an eCore affiliate, creating an urgent need to assess students’ readiness and motivation for online learning. UNG selected SmarterServices’ SmarterMeasure Learning Readiness Indicator (LRI) to capture targeted readiness data and guide interventions for improved retention and success.

SmarterServices implemented SmarterMeasure for UNG by training staff on the administrative panel, setting UNG‑specific readiness ranges, and integrating the LRI into BrightSpace, initially targeting first‑time online students. In one academic year 3,455 students enrolled online and 1,073 completed the LRI; those who completed it had a significantly higher average GPA (2.87) than non‑completers (2.44) at 95% confidence, with no prior GPA differences—results UNG attributes to the targeted supports informed by SmarterMeasure.

The University of North Georgia