Virginia Western measures transfer success by examining students in the previous academic year to determine if the student had subsequently enrolled at a four-year institution in the next academic year. For example, all students enrolled at VWCC in the academic year 2019-2020 were examined in 2020-2021 to determine if they had subsequently enrolled at a 4-year institution.
1. Subsequent Enrollment at 4-Year Institutions – All Students
Goal/Target: The percentage of Virginia Western students that subsequently enroll at a 4-year institution within one year will increase by 1% from the prior year.
Threshold of Acceptability: The percentage of Virginia Western students that subsequently enroll within one year will be maintained from the prior year.
Source: National Student Clearinghouse
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
Conclusion: 19% of all Virginia Western students enrolled in the 2020-21 academic year subsequently enrolled the next year. This is a decrease of 1% from the prior year; thus, we did not meet our threshold of acceptability.
Action Plan: This population includes our career technical education students who are enrolled in programs designed for immediate employment. The Academic Success Team, part of our Shared Governance structure, along with the VCCS, is finalizing the Transfer Virginia Program. This will allow for a seamless transfer to four-year institutions. This program begins in 2023-2024.
2. Subsequent Enrollment at 4-Year Institutions – Transfer Graduates*
Goal/Target: 53% of all Virginia Western transfer graduates will subsequently enroll at a 4-year institution within one year.
Threshold of Acceptability: 50% of all Virginia Western transfer graduates will subsequently enroll at a 4-year institution within one year.
Source: National Student Clearinghouse
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
* Any student that graduates from VWCC with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree
Conclusion: 55% of 2020-2021 transfer graduates subsequently enrolled at a four-year institution within one year. This meets our goal of 53%.
Updated January 18th, 2023