Understanding the Student Experience
Revised Loss/Momentum Framework
Publication Date: 2016
Format: Framework / Infographic
This resource is a revised version of the original Loss and Momentum Framework (LMF), adapted by Achieving the Dream following the Completion by Design initiative. It introduces a new final stage of student progression—Transition—to reflect students’ movement beyond college into the workforce or transfer to other institutions.
Connections to the Transformation Journey
and How Institutions Transform
Stages of Transformation
- Start the Process: Like the original Loss/Momentum Framework, this revised version offers an intuitive structure for understanding the student experience. It is especially useful early in a transformation journey, when leadership teams are exploring how to frame their efforts and various constituent groups on campus are building their familiarity with key stages, sequencing, and terminology. Note the original LMF includes more detailed examples of enabling infrastructure and momentum strategies, which supports deeper planning efforts.
- Sharpen the Focus: This revised framework can help teams structure early-stage reflection and pinpoint opportunities for improvement. It provides a simple, visual way to surface gaps in the student experience and organize insights that can guide more focused inquiry.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Continuous Improvement
This resource is most relevant to the following cross-functional roles:
- Mid-Level Leaders: This resource provides mid-level leaders with a visual, student-centered way to communicate challenges and opportunities across departments. It can help structure internal conversations about the timing, sequencing, and purpose of reform efforts aligned to the student journey. Note that the original LMF provides more details about enabling infrastructure and possible momentum strategies.
This resource connects to the following phase(s) of the PRPAM framework:
- Prepare: This resource is most useful for institutions very early in their transformation journey, when it can serve as a strong reference for introducing the student experience. Note that the original LMF includes more details about what types of practices, policies, and strategies contribute to it, and when.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Other Considerations
- This is a revised version of the original Loss/Momentum Framework. While it introduces a new end stage of student progression (Transition), it omits much of the original’s detail on Loss Points, Momentum Points, Enabling System Infrastructure, and Enabling Institutional Infrastructure. Institutions may benefit from reviewing both versions, using this one to frame early conversations and the original to support more detailed analysis and action planning.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Stages of Transformation
- Start the Process: Like the original Loss/Momentum Framework, this revised version offers an intuitive structure for understanding the student experience. It is especially useful early in a transformation journey, when leadership teams are exploring how to frame their efforts and various constituent groups on campus are building their familiarity with key stages, sequencing, and terminology. Note the original LMF includes more detailed examples of enabling infrastructure and momentum strategies, which supports deeper planning efforts.
- Sharpen the Focus: This revised framework can help teams structure early-stage reflection and pinpoint opportunities for improvement. It provides a simple, visual way to surface gaps in the student experience and organize insights that can guide more focused inquiry.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Continuous Improvement
This resource is most relevant to the following cross-functional roles:
- Mid-Level Leaders: This resource provides mid-level leaders with a visual, student-centered way to communicate challenges and opportunities across departments. It can help structure internal conversations about the timing, sequencing, and purpose of reform efforts aligned to the student journey. Note that the original LMF provides more details about enabling infrastructure and possible momentum strategies.
This resource connects to the following phase(s) of the PRPAM framework:
- Prepare: This resource is most useful for institutions very early in their transformation journey, when it can serve as a strong reference for introducing the student experience. Note that the original LMF includes more details about what types of practices, policies, and strategies contribute to it, and when.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Other
Considerations
- This is a revised version of the original Loss/Momentum Framework. While it introduces a new end stage of student progression (Transition), it omits much of the original’s detail on Loss Points, Momentum Points, Enabling System Infrastructure, and Enabling Institutional Infrastructure. Institutions may benefit from reviewing both versions, using this one to frame early conversations and the original to support more detailed analysis and action planning.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Recommended Citation: Achieving the Dream. (2016). Understanding the Student Experience [revised].
