Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC report gauges effectiveness serving students, community

Photos and story by James Hill

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Institutional Research Department at Portland Community College has released its institutional effectiveness report for the 2003 year. The review assesses statistics from the last academic year of 2002-03 and, in some areas, compares information from the last five years.The report summarizes data on college goals and student outcomes as established by the Board of Directors in 2001. It incorporates follow-up surveys from students and employers, Oregon University System transfer studies and student enrollment records. Also, departments throughout the college contributed data and information."These indicators help the college look at its progress toward institutional goals and are part of our overall assessment plan,"said Susan Bach, PCC Institutional Research director. "They are keyed to each college goal and provide information to internal and external audiences about how well PCC is accomplishing its mission. Most of the indicators focus on student outcomes such as what happens to students as a result of their educational experiences here. The results are used for the continuous improvement of college programs and services."Some of the findings include:’ District residents feel they have access and utilize educational opportunities, and feel the college strives to keep tuition and fees affordable and have access to financial aid.’ Enrollment patterns remain constant over five-year period, with increased retention among degree-seeking students.’ Employers are satisfied with the quality of training demonstrated by former PCC students.’ PCC students who transfer to schools in the Oregon University System perform as well or better than other state community college students. Academic performance is also comparable to that of a student who begins college at an Oregon university.’ Women and minorities are represented in the college population proportionately greater numbers than in the metro area as a whole. Women now makeup 56.8 percent of the students and 26.6 percent of the PCC student body are minority students.’ Students said they felt prepared for transfer and indicate their PCC course work is related to the work they face at the transfer institution.’ The college and its various communities work together to address issues of mutual concern and promote development of the region.’ Increasing number of students are taking advantage of co-admission programs that facilitate transfer to the Oregon University System. The number of students has increased to 917 in 2003 from 413 in 2002.’ 80 percent of all credit courses attempted are completed and three-quarters of all credit degree-seeking students maintain satisfactory standards of success each term, a slight decrease from previous years.’ One of out six students placed on academic alert at the end of fall term will return to good academic standing in spring term, which is a slight improvement from the last year.For the complete statistics and reports of the college’s effectiveness indicators, visit the Web at Institutional Research