Mercy College

Mercy College

Course Redesign Project

Date

July 15, 2025

Topic

Case Study

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About Mercy College

Mercy College is a private, nonsectarian, and coeducational college founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy. The college offers degree and certificate programs across multiple disciplines including nursing, business, social sciences, education, technology, art, and media.

The Project

Mercy College partnered with Symbiosis to redesign over 50 courses that were experiencing high enrollment and high dropout rates. The goal was to improve student retention and success in these foundational courses.

Our Approach

Course Analysis

  • Reviewed the 50+ high-enrollment courses to identify common issues affecting student completion
  • Analyzed student performance data and feedback
  • Worked with faculty to understand existing challenges

Redesign Process

  • Applied evidence-based instructional design principles
  • Restructured course content and delivery methods
  • Improved course navigation and student experience
  • Enhanced learning materials and assessments

Faculty Support

  • Provided training on new course structure and teaching methods
  • Created implementation guides and resources
  • Offered ongoing support during the transition

Results

The course redesigns led to:

  • Reduced dropout rates in the redesigned courses
  • Improved student completion rates
  • Enhanced student satisfaction with course experience
  • Better learning outcomes across the redesigned curriculum

Impact

This project helped Mercy College improve student success in critical foundational courses, supporting better overall retention and degree completion rates. The partnership demonstrated how strategic instructional design can address common challenges in higher education.

Interested in improving course completion rates at your institution? Contact Symbiosis to learn about our instructional design solutions.

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