Report of Achieving the Dream Data Team August 20, 2008

Contents Methodology Zero-level Courses with Observations Retention of Fall 2007 AtD Cohort

Methodology Achieving the Dream (AtD) defines student success in a course as a grade of A, B, C, or S. Zero-level courses selected to track, study, and develop strategies to improve are: College Writing II Reading II Study Skills Basic Math Elementary Algebra. 1000-level courses selected to track, study, and develop strategies to improve are: English Composition I History to the Civil War College Algebra Introduction to Psychology American Federal Government

Zero-Level Courses Observations: Three-Year Average Comparison Four out of five selected courses declined in average number of students enrolled LS 0213 Reading Skills increased slightly Successful completion rates for College Writing II and College Reading II declined Classes offered in an 8-week format did show an increase in successful completion Successful completion rates for Study Skills increased Classes offered in the afternoon, night or online declined in successful completion

Zero-Level Courses Observations: Three-Year Average Comparison Successful completion rates for Basic Math and Elementary Algebra declined. In Basic Math, afternoon and weekend classes show an increase in success, while success rates in computer assisted classes declined substantially (Note: weekend and computer assisted classes have small enrollment) In Elementary Algebra, weekend, computer assisted, and web enhanced classes showed a substantial increase in success (Note: these formats all have small enrollment)

1000-Level Courses Observations: Three-Year Average Comparison All five of the selected courses declined in average number of students enrolled History to the Civil War and American Federal Government had the most notable decline Four of the five courses declined in success rates; however, three of the five declined 1 percentage point or less History to the Civil War declined 1.6 percentage points American Federal Government slightly increased in success rate

Zero-Level Courses Observations: Three-Year Average Comparison English Composition I (0.8 percentage point decline) Weekend classes experienced a substantial increase in success (69.2 to 74.5) Eight-week and online classes show the most noticeable decline History to the Civil War (1.6 percentage point decline) Success rates in night, online, and 8-week classes show the greatest decline College Algebra (0.7 percentage point decline) Off campus and 8-week classes account for most of the decline in success rate

Zero-Level Courses Observations: Three-Year Average Comparison American Federal Government (0.2 percentage point increase) Night and weekend classes experienced a substantial increase in success rates Interactive TV, telecourse, and web enhanced classes showed an increase in success rates Online courses, however, showed a decline in success rates Introduction to Psychology (1 percentage point decline) Off campus and telecourse sections experienced substantial decline in success rate (Note: very small enrollment)

Methodology All persistence and retention data is based on the ATD cohort, which includes all students who enter OCCC for the first-time in the fall semester. Persistence is defined as a student in Fall AtD Cohort attending 1 or more classes in the following Spring. (Fall 2007 to Spring 2008) Retention is defined as a student in Fall AtD Cohort attending 1 or more classes in the following Fall. (Fall 2007 to Fall 2008)

AtD Fall 2007 Cohort Demographics 3,230 students are first-time to OCCC (Approx. 25% of All Fall 2007) 54% are Female 71% are 18–24 years old Black/African Americans (12%) represent the largest ethnic/racial minority followed by Hispanic/Latinos (8%) Whites represent 57% of total cohort 53% are part-time (Less than 12 credit hours) 77% fall into one of two EFC groups: 22.8% in $0 - $1,500 54.7% in Did Not Apply for Financial Aid

AtD Fall 2007 Cohort Demographics Compared to ALL Fall 2007 students: Slightly higher percentage males (3 percentage points) Higher percentage 18 – 24 year olds (15 percentage points) Slightly higher percentage of ethnic minorities (2 percentage points) Higher percentage are full-time (10 percentage points) Lower percentage Did Not Apply for Financial Aid (6 percentage points)

AtD Fall 2007 Cohort Retention 34% are enrolled for one or more classes in Fall 2008 Females are retained at a higher rate (36%) than males (31%) 18-24 year olds were retained at a higher rate (34.5%) than the overall retention rate (34.0%) Asians are retained at a much higher rate (51%) than the overall retention rate, while Black/African Americans are retained at a lower rate (21%) Full-time students are retained at a much higher rate (44%) than part-time students (25%)

AtD Fall 2007 Cohort Retention Students who had an EFC of $20,000 or more were retained at a much lower rate (30%) than any other category of EFC Students who received a high school diploma were retained at a higher rate (35.4%) than students who received a GED, were home schooled, or were admitted with no credentials Students with an academic standing of good were retained at a substantially higher rate than those admitted on notice, probation, or suspension

AtD Fall 2007 Cohort Retention

AtD Fall 2007 Cohort Retention

Comparison of AtD Falls 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 Cohort Persistence Fall 2007 shows a change in the direction of overall retention rates Falls 2005 and 2006 retention rates declined from our beginning Fall 2004 cohort; however Fall 2007 indicates a change in this downward trend. Although Fall 2007 females experienced a two percentage point increase from Fall 2006, male retention declined two percent. Although18-24 year olds experienced a four percentage point increase in persistence, the retention rate increased only four-tenths percentage points.

Comparison of AtD Falls 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 Cohort Persistence The total ethnic/racial minority increased three percentage points in persistence from Fall 2006; however, the retention rate declined four percentage points.

AtD Falls 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 Cohorts