Learning Analytics (LA) has been identified as one of the top technology trends in higher education today (Johnson et al., 2013). LA is based on the idea that datasets generated through normal administrative, teaching, or learning activities--such as registrar data or interactions with learning management systems--can be analyzed to enhance…

For more than three decades, American colleges and universities have made determined efforts to increase their numbers of students of color, particularly African-American and Hispanic students. But bringing students into higher education is not the same as ensuring that they succeed. The persistence rates of African Americans and Hispanics…