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| Saddleback College "finishers" |
Two of three Orange County community college students intending to earn a degree either dropped out or did not graduate within six years, according to a study that examines how elusive college success remains for many local students.SEE ALSO Four-year diploma? Try five, maybe six (David Whiting; OC Reg)
Just one in four O.C. community college students transferred to a four-year university during the six-year period studied, and Latino students were less than half as likely as their white counterparts to transfer.
The study, released this week by the Campaign for College Opportunity coalition and the Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy at Sacramento State University, mirrors trends observed statewide and nationally.
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Orange County fared only slightly better than California as a whole.
After six years, 70 percent of students statewide didn't complete a degree or dropped out, according to the study.
Community college officials emphasized that their challenges are immense. Unlike K-12 education, college students are free to drop out and re-enroll at any time. And yet like K-12 education, community colleges must allow almost anyone who walks through the doors to enroll.
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"It's very hard when a community college student comes to us three or four grades below college level and we have to bring them up," [Rancho Santiago Community College District Chancellor Raúl] Rodríguez said. "They are playing catch-up all the time, and they get discouraged. A lot of them give up."
While community college graduation rates remain low across Orange County and California, they are relatively high compared to most other states.
California ranks 16th among U.S. states for its three-year graduation rate….
At Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, the six-year graduation rate is 62 percent, nearly double the countywide average of 32 percent, said college spokeswoman Amy Wheeler. Even so, Saddleback officials say they aren't satisfied and have been working to improve that rate, Wheeler said.
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"There's a history to community colleges having open access, but with the impact of the state budget crisis, our state chancellor has asked us to focus on the primary objectives of transfer and basic technical and career skills," [Coast Community College District spokeswoman Martha] Parham said. "We're trying to balance access with success, and find out where we can be the most successful in helping our students."
7 comments:
As an AA, BA holder from IVC and CSUF completed with evening classes over a ten year period I can attest that six years would have not been enough time for me. But, I am also reminded of the "quality" of some of my fellow students those many years ago, perhaps I too am on the low end of that scale. :)
3.5 years (in this coming June) since I met you Roy, and here I'll be, walking with a B.A. in Literary Journalism from UCI and a job offer from a major automotive magazine--me, a HS dropout!
If I can do it while supporting a family, I believe others can, too.
The IVC college email system is down. You can't access your email from off campus. First the web page goes down, now this. What's up? Anyone know?????
The email has been down since last night. If they sent out any announcements or explanations, they would do that via email so we wouldn't be able to read them anyway. ha ha ha
My morning is much more peaceful WITHOUT access to my college email account.
Whoa, 1: Congratulations! Well-done, man. I don't know how you managed it while supporting a family, frankly; but I am majorly impressed.
MAH
Jason, you should feel very proud (and fortunate). It couldn't have been easy. But I always knew you had it in you.
Very glad to hear about the offer from the magazine, too!
Keep us apprised of what's next for you!
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