Student Achievement Data

Nunez Community College has identified the following three goals, with associated minimum thresholds of acceptability, and outcomes to assess student achievement.  The three goals are related to the following:

1. Meet or Exceed 60% Fall to Fall Retention Rate​
2. Meet or Exceed 50% 8-Year Graduation Rate
3. Maintain 80% Licensure Exam Rate in Health Science Programs

The College maintains the same three distinct student achievement goals or measures for all programs regardless of the method of instruction or location of the course/program.  

1.  Retention

Appropriate to the Mission: The mission indicates “the College prepares students for academic achievement,” which suggests that retention should be a student success indicator.  Students will not earn an academic credential if they are not retained through graduation.

Definition: The first-year retention rate annually reported in the IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey that measures the percentage of first-time, full-time undergraduate students who return to the institution the following fall. The retention rate is available on the Department of Education’s College Navigator website.

Minimum Expected Threshold: Meet or exceed the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) mean.

Rationale for Minimum Expected Threshold: Utilizing LCTCS sister institutions in determining the minimum expected threshold provides us with similar institutions to compare Nunez’s success.

Achievement Goal: 60%

Outcome Evaluation: A review of the most current five-year retention rates revealed that NCC is below the Louisiana Community College mean all five years. Through disaggregation of the retention and graduation rate information, it was noted that both rates for the non-white cohort were lower than the white cohort.

2. Outcome Measures (8-year Award Rate)

Appropriate to the Mission: The mission directs Nunez “is committed to being a student-centered institution that provides innovative, relevant curricula integrating the arts, sciences, and humanities. Through this commitment, the College prepares students for academic achievement …”. This is an indication that graduation rates support the mission through the awarding of academic credentials and should be included as a student success measure.

Definition: The Outcome Measures 8-year award rate provided is the percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students who complete their program at the same institution within eight years. The source of information is the IPEDS Outcomes Measures Survey. 

Minimum Expected Threshold: Meet or exceed the 8-year Nunez average graduation rate over a 3 year period.

Rationale for Minimum Expected Threshold: Nunez Community College set its minimum expected threshold after a review of institutional trends, as well as after a review of other data, such as IPEDS. 

Achievement Goal: 50%

First-Time Freshmen Persistence to Graduation

Outcome Evaluation: A review of the most current graduation rates for NCC indicates the rate has exceeded the three-year mean in all years provided. However, the 8-year achievable goal has not been met

2a. Graduation Rate Disaggregation

Appropriate to the Mission and Definition: Nunez Community College disaggregates graduation rate data by the following: gender, ethnicity (race), and economically disadvantaged, defined as Pell Grant recipients. Disaggregating graduation rates by these student characteristics allows review by populations that are traditionally underserved in higher education, as well as the focus populations of the Louisiana Board of Regents 2030 Louisiana Prospers Master Plan, which is a strategic plan initiative.

Minimum Expected Threshold:  Meet or exceed the eight-year average graduation rate.

Rationale for Minimum Expected Threshold: Nunez Community College set its minimum expected threshold after a review of institutional trends as well as after a review of other data, such as IPEDS, for each of the disaggregated categories. The minimum expected threshold is the same as the threshold established for the overall graduation rate.

Persistence to Graduation Disaggregated by Student Population

First-Time, Full-Time Gender Cohort Headcount

First-Time, Full-Time Race Cohort Headcount 

Cohort Year First-Time, Full-Time Pell Eligibility Status Cohort Headcount

Outcome Evaluation: The College recognizes the importance of disaggregating the data to identify student categories of concern in order to develop and implement improvement initiatives. Although the first-time, full-time female population has declined in the past four years, there has been an increase in the eight-year graduation rate.

3.  Licensure Examinations

Appropriate to the Mission: The mission indicates “Through this commitment, the College prepares students for academic achievement and workforce opportunities while serving as a vital community and industry partner dedicated to fostering student success…..”  which suggests that workforce placement is a priority. In the healthcare field, licensure is required for graduates of emergency medical technician, paramedic, and practical nursing programs to gain employment.

Definition: National and/or state licensure examinations required to obtain license in order to work in the designated field.  Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Emergency Medical Services Paramedic graduates must pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam to earn the EMT certification. Practical Nursing graduates complete the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) NCLEX exam.

Minimum Expected Threshold: 70% to 80% licensure pass rate on first attempt.  Varies by program

Rationale for Minimum Expected Threshold:  Set independently for each program. The minimum is set depending on the state agency and programmatic accreditation requirements of each accrediting agency.

Achievement Goal: 80%

Outcome Evaluation: The Practical Nursing Program continues to exceed the minimum expected threshold. The Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic programs have not met the threshold in 3 years.