1. Report of Achieving the Dream Data Team
August 20, 2008

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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)

12. 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%)

13. 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

14. AtD Fall 2007 Cohort Retention

15. AtD Fall 2007 Cohort Retention

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. AtD Falls 2004, 2005, 2006 and Cohorts