Retention

Ohio CC Recognized for Student Success

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 05/17/18

Lorain County Community College's student success initiative is running on all cylinders. The Ohio institution was recently recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges for its progressive work in dual enrollment, degree completion and transfer. The AACC is an advocacy organization for community colleges, representing nearly 1,200 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions.

Among the programs offered at LCCC is MyUniversity Pathways, a partnership between LCCC and area high schools that encourages dual enrollment. Participating students graduate with both an associate degree and a high school diploma and receive scholarship funds to finish one of 35 bachelor's degrees by age 20 at the community college through a university partnership.

The school was also an early adopter of guided pathways, which are intended to optimize the course route students follow toward a given education goal. LCCC's systems, processes and operations have been restructured to support nine career pathways that guide students, according to the college, "in less time and less cost," to specific career areas and transfer opportunities. Even students who don't know what major they want to pursue can follow "exploratory majors," which gives them a "little more time" to choose a program, while still avoiding courses that could lead nowhere in degree progress.

Since 2011, the college has tripled its 150 percent IPEDS graduation rate and has increased the number of degrees and certificates awarded by 53 percent. The three-year graduation rate reached 60 percent, nearly 10 points higher than the state average of 51 percent. The school also leads Ohio in bachelor's degree completion for its transfer students.

"LCCC's work is serving as a model — and inspiration — for other colleges nationally to follow in their efforts to improve student success for all students," said Davis Jenkins, senior research scholar for the Community College Research Center, in a prepared statement. CCRC has provided resources to help community colleges implement guided pathways.