Background
Martin Community College (MCC) in Williamston, NC, serves three rural counties of Eastern North Carolina where 22 percent of the residents live in poverty. Ninety percent of MCC’s full-time, degree or certificate-seeking students receive financial aid.
The college’s enrollment is comprised almost equally of Black and White students. Regardless of race, most are first-generation college students with inadequate academic preparation. The college places 86 percent of the local high school graduates in developmental math; 82 percent require developmental English; and 65 percent need developmental reading. Only 40 percent of the individuals who applied for admission in fall 2004 followed through and registered for classes. MCC’s three-year graduation rate is 13 percent.
Achieving the Dream Goals
MCC wants to effect changes in retention and graduation rates, especially among low-income and minority students. To establish specific measurable goals and formulate improvement plans, however, it will first need to gather and analyze data. Its priorities are to
- Build institutional research capacity;
- Enroll more of the students who apply;
- Refine placement tests;
- Place fewer students in two or more developmental courses;
- Increase orientation participation;
- Improve retention and graduation rates;
- Reduce achievement gaps between White and Black students.
MCC will engage faculty, staff, students, trustees and the community in data collection and decision-making. Curriculum changes and other interventions will be evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively; resources will be allocated to successful initiatives.
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