Student Success and Benchmarking through the Guided Pathways Framework
Note: Data sharing between institutions within the state of Oregon only began in 2022, utilizing an agreed upon shared set of metrics from the Guided Pathways Framework.
The shared Metrics include:
- Completing Gateway Courses in Math and Writing (Pace)
- Reaching Momentum and Milestone Points (Pace)
- Staying Enrolled (Retention/Persistence)
- Achieving Success (Graduation/Transfer)
These metrics represent leading and lagging indicators in the lifecycle of the student and allow the College to make strategic investments of financial and human resources in order to improve overall student achievement and close equity gaps.
State and National Benchmarking
Following its Fall 2022 Mid-Cycle Evaluation, to better conform with NWCCU standards, OCCC redrew its IPEDS Data Feedback Report comparator colleges to align with the Oregon Small Colleges comparison group shared through OCCA and includes small colleges with similar programs within similar cultural geographies.
Oregon Small College Comparison Group (OCCA) | |||||||
College | Head-count | State | Rural/ Town | %Female | %PT | %Hispanic | %Pell |
Oregon Coast | 398 | Oregon | Rural | 74% | 60% | 20% | 52% |
Tillamook Bay | 538 | Oregon | Rural | 58% | 80% | 22% | 52% |
Clatsop | 714 | Oregon | Rural | 56% | 63% | 19% | 49% |
Columbia Gorge | 1,039 | Oregon | Town | 65% | 72% | 24% | 41% |
Blue Mountain | 1,227 | Oregon | Rural | 55% | 55% | 27% | 41% |
NWCCU Standard 1.D.3 The institution’s disaggregated indicators of student achievement should be widely published and available on the institution’s website. Such disaggregated indicators should be aligned with meaningful, institutionally identified indicators benchmarked against indicators for peer institutions at the regional and national levels and be used for continuous improvement to inform planning, decision making, and allocation of resources.
The new cohort, retrospectively applied to the start of the 7-year accreditation cycle, includes two similarly sized institutions from rural communities in Montana (Miles Community College and Dawson Community College) with similar demographics. Miles Community College is an aspirational comparator institution with significantly higher retention and graduation rates than the Oregon Small College comparison group.
National College Comparison Group (NWCCU Region) | |||||||
College | Head-count | State | Rural/ Town | %Female | %PT | %Hispanic | %Pell |
Dawson | 462 | Montana | Rural | 51% | 55% | 6% | 39% |
Miles | 583 | Montana | Rural | 66% | 53% | 3% | 43% |