Did You Know?

Submitted by Dr. Cat Finnegan, Academic Services & Research

During the 2015-2016 school year:

• 26,899 individuals earned 33,580 degrees and certificates.
• Three out of five of those graduates are minorities, first-generation students and economically disadvantaged individuals.
• College graduates today hold 65% of the nation’s jobs.

Submitted by Dr. Cat Finnegan, Academic Services & Research

• 37% of graduates were minority in Academic Year (AY) 2016 compared to 29% in AY 2007.
• Hispanic students made up more than 9% of graduates in AY 2016, compared to 4% in AY 2009.

Submitted by Dr. Lisa Jackson Hamiel, Academic Services & Research

• In academic year 2015-2016, Virginia’s Community Colleges, collectively, served 38,082 military-connected students, which included active service members, reservists, retired military, veterans, and their spouses and dependents.
• Virginia is ranked 7^th nationally in veteran population, a ranking that is expected to rapidly increase in subsequent years. By 2022, Virginia is expected to be ranked 4^th in veteran population.
• Virginia also is one of the states with highest population of college-aged veterans (under 25 years old) and has the largest population of veterans under 40, which is the population most likely to be attending college or pursuing additional training.

Submitted by Rachel Strawn, Great Expectations Program Director

Great Expectations is a nationally recognized program that helps Virginia’s foster youth earn the postsecondary credentials they need to achieve an independent and successful life, and is currently available at 18 of Virginia’s Community Colleges.

Submitted by Dr. Catherine Finnegan, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness

• More than 42,000 students enrolled in a college-level math course during Fall 2015.
• 39% of Fall 2014 first-time-in-college students were placed in at least one lower level developmental math module.
• Only 11% of those students had completed a college math course by Spring 2016.

Submitted by Dr. Catherine Finnegan, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness

On average, among VCCS’s first-time-in-college, degree-seeking students:

• Six out of 10 who pass all first semester courses will complete a degree (at either VCCS or a transfer institution) within six years.
• Four out of 10 who withdraw from at least one course, but pass all others will complete a degree (at either VCCS or a transfer institution) within six years.
• Only two out of 10 who fail a course in their first semester will complete a degree (at either VCCS or a transfer institution) within six years.

Submitted by Dr. Catherine Finnegan, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness

• Prior to the adoption of the Multiple Measures for Placement Policy, 95% of students entering the VCCS took the placement test, although other placement options were available.
• 61% of recent high-school graduates who enroll in the VCCS have either an SAT or ACT score.
• 78% of recent high-school graduates have taken Algebra 2 or higher.