Multiyear study examines practices that help US community college students graduate

A new multiyear project led by the US-based Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) is attempting to find out which programs and policies designed to help students graduate are most effective. CCCSE plans to analyze data from 4 different but related surveys and produce annual reports over the next 3 years. The surveys gauge the perspective of entering and experienced students, faculty members, and colleges. The first of 3 reports, released last week, draws attention to 13 strategies for boosting retention and graduation rates, such as fast-tracking remedial programs, providing students with experiential learning, and making student orientation sessions mandatory. While the strategies cited in the report are not new, how well they are working to help students stay in college and graduate is another matter. The report observed peculiarities among responses on similar topics, suggesting a disconnect between colleges and students, while also raising questions about how committed colleges are to their own programs and policies. The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access) | Read the report