The Academic Return on Investment Stack for Program Managers (created by REL-SC)

Each micro-credential listed in the stack map below has a defined competency and a description of the proof of learning that will be accepted to document learner ability in that competency. Micro-credentials may be attempted at any time the learner feels competent in a skill OR the learner may work through the supporting screencasts and associated learning activities to learn or practice the skill. Just click on the PROOF OF LEARNING section in each micro-credential and complete the task(s) as described.

This stack includes three micro-credentials and three professional learning screencasts created by Hanover Research (Arlington, VA).

The Academic Return on Investment Stack Map

Micro-credentialsSupporting Screencasts
Calculate Academic Return on Investment(A-ROI)
  • Calculating Academic Return on Investment (A-ROI)
Use A-ROI to Evaluate Programs
  • Using A-ROI to Evaluate Programs
Use Data to Measure A-ROI
  • Using Data to Measure A-ROI

For questions related to SCDE micro-credentials, please email professionallearning@ed.sc.gov.

Micro-credential: Calculate Academic Return on Investment

Academic return on investment (A-ROI) is a vital measurement for program administrators and evaluators to determine the impacts of academic programming relative to their costs. Effective program evaluation and strong proposals for new initiatives will consider academic return on investment to ensure that scarce funds for education are allocated to the highest impact programs.


Micro-credential: Use Academic Return on Investment to Evaluate Programs

Academic return on investment (A-ROI) and logic models are important tools that program administrators and evaluators can utilize to assess both the effectiveness of a given initiative and the cost-effectiveness of implementing that program. Effective program evaluation and strong proposals for new initiatives will consider academic return on investment to ensure that scarce funds for education are allocated to the highest impact programs.

Micro-credential: Use Data to Measure Academic Return on Investment

In order to determine the cost-effectiveness of academic programming, administrators and evaluators must possess an understanding of academic return on investment (A-ROI). Likewise, program staff need to be able to identify the necessary data to calculate academic return on investment so that evaluations of programming are both accurate and unbiased. Effective program management and assessment practices will consider academic return on investment in procedures for goal-setting, data collection, and analysis of students’ academic outcomes.