Graduation, transfer rates top state average at EGCC

Staff report

youngstown

Graduation and transfer rates at Eastern Gateway Community College are above state averages, according to reports given to the Board of Trustees at its March meeting.

The graduation rates of public two-year colleges report shows Eastern Gateway with the second-highest rate in the state at 26 percent, right behind Washington State Community College in Marietta, said Patty Sturch, dean of enrollment management.

Complete College America reported Ohio’s 2011 figures in a recent publication. The data source is the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, a national data source from the U.S. Department of Education.

Graduation rates are for first-time, full-time students completing a certificate or degree within 150 percent of normal program time. Graduation rates for other nearby two-year colleges show Zane State College at 24 percent and Stark State College of Technology at 15 percent.

Eastern Gateway’s 26 percent graduation rate increased 3 percent from the 2010 report.

The Complete College America report says that by 2020, 59 percent of the jobs will require a career certificate or college degree. Currently, only 36 percent of Ohio adults have an associate degree or higher, according to the report given to trustees.

In addition to providing degrees and certificates, community colleges possess the mission to offer opportunities for students to take classes and to complete associate degrees to transfer to four-year institutions of higher learning.

This transfer-out rate is an important component to fulfilling the college’s overall mission. Eastern Gateway’s transfer-out rate stands at 27 percent in 2011, which increased 12 percent from the previous year, Sturch said.

Combining the 26 percent graduation and 27 percent transfer rates, Eastern Gateway racks up 53 percent of its students meeting these two goals, she said.

“Another significant percentage of our students are taking classes to advance on the job,” Sturch said.

Other data reported to the trustees shows the fall to spring retention rate stands at 74 percent. This compares with 75 percent one year ago, Sturch said.

In personnel matters, employee contracts for members of the bargaining units and for nonbargaining contract and noncontract employees were approved for fiscal year 2012-13. The average increase on the wage scales is 1.92 percent.