ERIC Number: ED582160
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Sep
Pages: 67
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The State of College Completion Initiatives at U.S. Community Colleges
Kilgore, Wendy; Wilson, Jacob I.
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) periodically undertakes research projects to keep themselves and the higher-education community in general, informed about current and emerging institutional practices. College completion rates, and how to improve them, have been in the forefront of the higher education agenda in the United States since 2009 when President Obama announced his 2020 goal to increase the percentage of citizens with college degrees. For this project, AACRAO chose to focus on how the completion agenda impacts student success and the institution, as measured by an increase in the number or percentage of certificates or degrees awarded at U.S. community colleges. AACRAO attempted to: (1) gain an understanding of the rate of participation in any formal college completion initiative; and (2) understand the breadth of initiatives in progress, measure the fiscal and human resource impact on the institution, and determine the impact on student completion. In addition, AACRO wanted to capture an understanding of students' awareness of their colleges' efforts to support degree completion. During the survey development process, AACRO reviewed existing resources on the subject and was unable to find a definitive source listing all active national college completion initiatives. The resources found were several years old and contained references to inactive initiatives. As a result, survey questions are included to help develop a current snapshot of most, if not all national level initiatives. This project consisted of two primary surveys--one for U.S. community colleges (which for the purposes of this research also included technical colleges)--and another for current community college students. A literature review and interviews with community college administrators familiar with the institutional initiatives were also conducted. According to National Student Clearinghouse data, the Fall 2010 cohort, 6-year college completion rates increased over the previous year and the trend is expected to continue (Shapiro, 2016). It is clear from the results of this multi-perspective examination of college completion initiatives at U.S. community colleges that efforts in this direction have, for most, improved completion rates and that interest from colleges to further improve completion rates continues to be a focus. It is also clear that institutions face similar challenges around access to data, institutional buy-in, and change management.
Descriptors: Graduation Rate, College Graduates, Community Colleges, Two Year College Students, Literature Reviews, Interviews, Administrators, Geographic Location, Surveys, Participation, Student Personnel Services, Intervention, Academic Support Services, College Faculty, Data Collection, Program Evaluation
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). One Dupont Circle NW Suite 520, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-293-9161; Fax: 202-872-8857; e-mail: pubs@aacrao.org; Web site: http://www.aacrao.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Numerical/Quantitative Data
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Hobsons; National Student Clearinghouse Research Center
Authoring Institution: American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
Identifiers - Location: Ohio; Illinois (Chicago); Missouri (Kansas City); Arizona; California (Bakersfield); Oregon; New York (Rochester); Arizona (Tucson); Ohio (Columbus); Oklahoma (Tulsa)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A