1. Awards Conferred
Goal/Target: Virginia Western will maintain the total number of awards conferred from the previous year.
Threshold of Acceptability: Virginia Western’s total number of awards conferred will be within a -2% change from the previous year.
Source: SIS
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
Conclusion: In 2021-2022, VWCC conferred 1,184 awards. This is an increase of 4% from the previous year, which meets our goal to maintain the total number of awards conferred.
2. Number of Graduates
Goal/Target: Virginia Western will maintain the total number of graduates from the previous year.
Threshold of Acceptability: Virginia Western’s total number of graduates will be within a -2% change from the previous year.
Source: SIS
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
Conclusion: In 2021-2022, VWCC graduated 1,012 students. This is an increase of 2.3% from the previous year, which meets our goal to maintain the total number of graduates.
3. Overall Cohort Graduation Rate
Goal/Target: Virginia Western will have an overall cohort graduation rate of 37%*
Threshold of Acceptability: Virginia Western will have an overall cohort graduation rate of 30%
Source: IPEDS
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
* Cohort consists of full-time, degree-seeking students with no prior college experience who graduated within federally defined IPEDs rate of 150% of normal graduation time
Conclusion: 33% of Virginia Western’s 2018 cohort graduated within the IPEDS defined 150% normal graduation time. This meets the threshold of acceptability of 30%.
3a. Overall Cohort Graduation Rate by Gender
Goal/Target^: 31% of men and 34% of women will graduate within 150% time
Threshold of Acceptability: 28% of men and 31% of women will graduate within 150% time
Source: IPEDS
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
^ Goals for 3a, 3b, and 3c are based on 5-year averages; threshold of acceptability is 3% below the 5-year average
Conclusion: 28% men and 37% of women in Virginia Western’s 2018 cohort graduated within the IPEDS defined 150% normal graduation time. For men, this meets the threshold of acceptability; for women, this meets the goal.
3b. Overall Cohort Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity
Goal/Target^: 17% of Black students will graduate within 150% time; 28% of Other** students will graduate within 150% time; 27% of Two or More race students will graduate within 150% time; and 35% of White students will graduate within 150% time.
Threshold of Acceptability: 14% of Black students will graduate within 150% time; 25% of Other** students will graduate within 150% time; 24% of Two or More race students will graduate within 150% time; and 32% of White students will graduate within 150% time.
Source: IPEDS
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
^ Goals for 3a, 3b, and 3c are based on 5-year averages; threshold of acceptability is 3% below the 5-year average
** Due to low sample size (n <10), American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Non-Resident aliens, and Unknown race/ethnicity students have been combined into “Other”
Conclusion: Black, Other, and White students from the 2018 cohort are meeting their respective goals for graduation within 150% time. However, students with two or more race/ethnicities did not meet the threshold of acceptability.
Action Plan: Two or more race/ethnicities typically has a small sample size. In addition, the Diversity and the Academic Success shared governance teams have also received this data in order to inform their goals and initiatives, developing a culture of care and an ESL plan to equip students with the tools and resources they need for success.
3c. Overall Cohort Graduation Rate by Financial Aid Status
Goal/Target^: 26% of students that receive a Pell Grant will graduate within 150% time; 25% of students with a Stafford Loan (no Pell) will graduate within 150% time; and 41% of students that don’t have Pell grants or Stafford loans will graduate within 150% time.
Threshold of Acceptability: 23% of students that receive a Pell Grant will graduate within 150% time; 22% of students with a Stafford Loan (no Pell) will graduate within 150% time; and 38% of students that don’t have Pell grants or Stafford loans will graduate within 150% time.
Source: IPEDS
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
^ Goals for 3a, 3b, and 3c are based on 5-year averages; threshold of acceptability is 3% below the 5-year average
Conclusion: Students from the 2018 cohort that receive Pell grants, students that have Stafford loans, and students that have neither are all meeting their respective goals for graduation within 150% time.
Updated: January 18th, 2023