Retention and Graduation Rates

How successful is Bladen Community College with retaining students from their first semester to graduation?

Retention Rates

IPEDS defines student retention as the percentage of first time students who return to the institution to continue their studies in the following fall semester. Bladen Community College retains 47% of full time students, and 31% of part time students. There are many factors that could affect student retention rates. Most of the reasons that students decide not to return to school are related to situations beyond the college’s control. Students develop new work schedules, family conflicts; have difficulty obtaining child care, and face other personal difficulties (Cohen, Brawer, & Kisker, 2014). If community colleges take the initiative to integrate students with their institution, retention levels will improve. Bladen Community College has tutors, retention specialists, male minority advisors, and other advisors on campus to provide assistance to students and improve retention. It would be interesting to learn more about the changes in retention rates before and after these resources were available on campus.

Graduation Rates

IPEDS defines graduation rates as the number of students who began their studies as full time, first time degree or certificate students who complete a degree or certificate within 150% of normal time for completing the program in which they are enrolled. Bladen Community College’s overall graduation rate is 20%. According to Cohen, Brawer, and Kisker (2014), community college graduation rates can vary from 14% to 36%, depending on definitions and databases used. Bladen Community College’s graduation rate falls on the lower end of the range, therefore there is still room for improvement. The tables below provide more demographic information about Bladen Community College’s graduation rates.

Graduation Rate by Gender

Male	26%
Female	17%

 

Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity

American Indian	6%
Black or African American	5%
Hispanic/Latino	67%
White	29%
Race/Ethnicity Unknown	50%

 

Cohen, Brawer, and Kisker (2014) argue that White students have higher degree completion rates than other minority groups, however; at Bladen Community College, Hispanic students have the highest graduation rate. Local demographic information could influence enrollment and graduation statistics, but Bladen Community College has enhanced progress for minority students.

Transfer-Out Rates

Transfer-out rates are defined by IPEDS as the percentage of full time, first time students who transferred to another institution. According to IPEDS, 23% of students transferred from Bladen Community College to another institution in 2015. This information was also included in an earlier post, but students transferred from Bladen Community College to the four year institutions in the chart below.

UNC Pembroke	40 students
Fayetteville State University	15 students
UNC Wilmington	4 students
Appalachian State University	2 students
North Carolina Central University	1 student
North Carolina State University	1 student
UNC Charlotte	1 student
UNC Greensboro	1 student

 

Students have experienced academic success at four-year institutions within the UNC system after transferring from Bladen Community College. 43% of students who transferred from Bladen Community College had a GPA of 2.0 or higher after their first year at a new institution, and 14% had a GPA of at least 3.0. Only two of the public institutions within the UNC System have reported the average first year GPA of transfer students from Bladen Community College. Students at UNC Pembroke have an average GPA of 2.05 after their first year. Non-transfer students at UNC Pembroke have an average GPA of 2.44. Transfer students at Fayetteville State University have an average GPA of 3.28, and non-transfer students have an average GPA of approximately 2.40 (UNC General Administration, 2015). Detailed information about the discrepancies in reported GPAs was not available. Institutions should be contacted individually for more information about the average GPA of transfer students.

Graduation Rate after Transfer

Bladen Community College students graduate from four year colleges at varying rates after transferring. On average, students complete their studies at other institutions within 2-4 years of transfer. The most recent overall graduation rates for Bladen Community College transfer students at each institution are listed below. In a few columns, a 0% graduation rate was reported for Bladen Community College students, which implies that transfer students had not graduated at the time that data was reported by UNC General Administration. Detailed information about graduation rates is available here.

	Freshman Transfers	Sophomore Transfers	Junior Transfers	Senior Transfers
UNC Pembroke	33%	33%	18%	67%
Fayetteville State University	50%	50%	17%	50%
UNC Wilmington	Not Reported	100%	67%	0%
Appalachian State University	Not Reported	0%	Not Reported	100%
North Carolina Central University	0%	0%	Not Reported	Not Reported
North Carolina State University	0%	100%	100%	Not Reported
UNC Charlotte	Not Reported	100%	100%	Not Reported
UNC Greensboro	Not Reported	Not Reported	Not Reported	100%

 

Is there a difference in graduation rates between students who complete their AA/AS degree before transferring vs. those who have not completed their AA/AS degree? The most recent graduation rates for students who completed their AA/AS degree at Bladen Community College before transferring to another institution are listed below. No information was provided by Appalachian State University, North Carolina Central University, UNC Charlotte, or UNC Greensboro. Those institutions should be contacted individually for more information about graduation rates for students who completed their AA/AS degree.

Graduation Rates for Students with an AA/AS Degree

	Freshman Transfers	Sophomore Transfers	Junior Transfers	Senior Transfers
UNC Pembroke	Not Reported	50%	67%	100%
Fayetteville State University	Not Reported	100%	67%	Not Reported
UNC Wilmington	Not Reported	100%	50%	Not Reported
North Carolina State University	Not Reported	100%	100%	Not Reported

 

Specific graduation rates for students who transferred without a degree was outdated or not available. When compared to overall graduation rates for Bladen Community College students at each institution, graduation rates were higher for students who completed their AA/AS degree prior to transferring to UNC Pembroke and Fayetteville State University. Graduation rates were approximately the same for students who transferred to UNC Wilmington and North Carolina State University.

Even though Bladen Community College is a small institution, resources are available to ensure student success before, during, and after attendance. Learn more about Bladen Community College here.

References

Bladen Community College. http://www.bladencc.edu/

Cohen, A.M., Brawer, F.B., & Kisker, C.B. (2014). The American community college (6th ed.). San Francisco: Wiley.

Google Images. https://www.google.com/ (Featured Image originated from http://www.bladencc.edu)

IPEDS. http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/Home/FindYourCollege

University of North Carolina General Administration. https://www.northcarolina.edu/infocenter#interactiveData

 

Campus Organization and Budget

Bladen Community College is a great institution. In addition to the students, the efforts of the faculty have influenced the success of the institution.

Organizational Structure

The current organizational chart (pictured above) is a seven page document that was developed in 2013. Current staff members’ names have not been added to the chart, but an employee directory is easily accessible on the Bladen Community College website. The organizational structure is organized by division. Vice Presidents for each division report to the president, and each vice president oversees multiple departments and programs. The structure is similar to the basic community college administrative structure explained in chapter four of Cohen, Brawer, and Kisker (2014). Vice presidents are under the president on the organization chart, and they are responsible for instruction and student services, continuing education, and finance. Under the vice presidents are associate vice presidents, who oversee deans of each academic department, guidance personnel, and the directors of individual academic units. The full chart can be accessed here.

The college mission statement, which can be found on the website and in the college catalog, states that “Bladen Community College is dedicated to the educational and cultural enrichment of the local and global communities it serves. The college is committed to quality teaching through both distance and on-site environments for high-order learning, college transfer preparation, work force development training, and entrepreneurship opportunities.” These ideas are reflected within the organizational structure. There are faculty members who are responsible for distance learning opportunities and provide “quality teaching through distance environments” and educational enrichment for local and global communities. The Male Minority Program Coordinator is one of many faculty members who provide cultural and academic enrichment for students. Tutors work with the Learning Enhancement Center to provide educational enrichment for students. There are also faculty members who are responsible for small business (entrepreneurship opportunities), basic skills, arts and sciences (college transfer), continuing education (work force development), and more.

The organizational structure also addresses the institutional goals of Bladen Community College. The institutional goals are listed in the college catalog. Faculty members are available to provide academic and financial aid counseling, and special needs accommodation to ensure that students have resources available to meet their goals. Faculty members instruct college transfer, vocational, and continuing education courses to provide opportunities for future employment or further education. Overall, the organizational structure appears to align with the mission and goals of the institution.

Overview of Faculty

Full Time vs Part Time
There are approximately 132 faculty members at Bladen Community College. Most of the faculty members work part time within instructional positions. Details provided by IPEDS are included in the chart below.

	Full Time	Part Time
Total Faculty	47	85
Instructional	46	85
Research and Public Service	1	0

 

Academic Background and Credentialing

According to the Bladen Community College website, curriculum adjunct faculty positions (biology instructors, mathematics instructors, etc.) require a master’s degree with 18 graduate credit hours in the subject area. Continuing education positions (welding, nursing assistant, etc.) require current certification in the field with an associate’s degree or higher preferred. Faculty members who instruct basic skills courses (GED, adult education, etc.) must have a bachelor’s degree, but an associate’s degree or higher is required for substitutes. Faculty members who serve in administrative positions have differing education and employment experience, but most positions on campus require at least an associate’s degree.

Salary/Compensations

According to the NC Community Colleges website, the average nine month faculty salary for Bladen Community College in 2014-2015 was $52,642, which is the fifth highest salary in the North Carolina Community College System. It is amazing that one of the smallest community colleges in the state also has one of the highest average salaries in the state. I assumed that larger colleges would have higher average salaries for their faculty members because they have more resources, but faculty salaries at larger institutions are not necessarily the highest.

Summary of State Aid Budget Allocations

The table below provides a summary of State Aid Budget Allocations for Bladen Community College.

Curriculum	$4,349,374
Occupational Extension	$679,170
Basic Skills Block Grant	$299,946
Institutional and Academic Support	$3,485,367
Performance Based Allocation	$50,486
Compensation Bonus Allotment	$98,435
Categorical Allocations	$687,254
Management Flexibility Reduction	($415,821)
Total Budget Allocation	$9,234,211

 

Bladen Community College received over nine million dollars in budget allocations in 2015-2016. The curriculum received the most funding. It includes health care, technical education, continuing education, and college education courses, which will train students for employment in a variety of occupations. Occupational Extension funds also support continuing education courses, based on the college’s full time enrollment. The Basic Skills Block Grant supports adult education and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, and a portion of the funds are based on progress of basic skills students and high school equivalency diploma attainment (NC Community Colleges, 2016).

Institutional and academic support received the second largest allotment, and it includes the president’s salary, and support for administrative and instructional support positions. Performance Based Allocation includes accountability measures and performance standards for the institution. The Compensation bonus allotment included a $750 compensation bonus for permanent state employees in 2015. Categorical Allocations include child care, small business centers, equipment, and other instructional resources. The management flexibility reduction is a budget cut implemented by the North Carolina General Assembly, which brings Bladen Community College’s Total Budget Allocation to $9,234,211. Read more about NC Community College budget allocations here.

Performance Based Funding

Performance Based Funding is measured by:

1. Success rate of developmental students in college level English courses
2. Success rate of developmental students in college level math courses
3. Progress of first year curriculum students
4. Curriculum student retention and graduation
5. Attainment of licensure and certifications by students
6. Performance of students who transfer to a four year institution

Program quality is determined by a college’s rate of student success on each measure compared to system wide performance, and program impact is the number of students succeeding on each measure. If a college does not meet the baseline level, no performance based funding is received. If a college exceeds baseline levels but does not meet excellence levels, it receives a portion of performance based funding. If a college meets excellence levels, 100% of funding is received. If a college exceeds excellence levels, more than 100% of performance based funding will be received (NC Community Colleges, 2016). The table below displays how performance based funding is applied to Bladen Community College.

	Developmental English Success	Developmental Math Success	First Year Progression
Quality	0	3,611	2,691
Impact	3,745	5,547	4,629
Total Funding	$3,745	$9,158	$7,320

 

	Curriculum Completion	Licensure Passing Rates	College Transfer Performance
Quality	8,681	8,265	895
Impact	2,276	7,428	2,718
Total Funding	$10,957	$15,693	$3,613

 

Bladen Community College’s total performance based funding amount in 2015-2016 was $50,486, which is only a small portion of the 9 million dollar budget. According to Cohen, Brawer, and Kisker (2014), most states set aside 2-5% of state allocations for performance based funding, and the allocation amount for Bladen Community College falls within that range. Critics argue that performance based funding takes money away from colleges which are already underfunded and may discourage marginal students from enrolling. Supporters of performance  based funding argue that fiscal support will increase due to multiple measures of progress and success, and multipliers for students in remedial courses will protect the college open access missions. It will be interesting to see how performance based funding is adjusted over time as leadership positions and the economy change.

References

Bladen Community College. http://www.bladencc.edu

Cohen, A.M., Brawer, F.B., & Kisker, C.B. (2014). The American community college (6th ed.). San Francisco: Wiley.

Google Images. https://www.google.com/ (Featured Image originated from http://www.bladenonline.com)

IPEDS. http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/Home/FindYourCollege

NC Community Colleges Budget.
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/finance-operations/budget-accounting/budget-information

NC Community Colleges Performance Based Funding. http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/finance-operations/budget-accounting/state-aid

 

Degree, Transfer, and Career/Technical Programs

The following degree programs are offered at Bladen Community College:

• College Transfer
• General Education
• Agribusiness Technology
• Business Administration
• Computer Information Technology
• Office Administration
• Electrical Systems Technology
• Carpentry
• Nursing
• Nursing Assistant
• Practical Nursing
• Industrial Systems Technology
• Welding Technology

The following Career/Technical/Vocational programs are offered:

• Basic Law Enforcement Training
• Cosmetology
• Criminal Justice
• Early Childhood Education
• Esthetics Technology
• General Occupational Technology
• Infant/Toddler Care
• Manicure/Nail Technology
• School Age Education

Current student demographics for each program were not available on Bladen Community College’s website, IPEDS, CFNC, College Board, etc., and the institution’s sole registrar was out of the office and unable to provide the data. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Score Card, the most popular academic programs at the institution are:

• Business Management – 19% of degrees awarded
• General Education – 18%
• Health Professions – Nursing – 12%
• Computer and Information Sciences – 10%
• Law Enforcement programs – 10%

I contacted the admissions office and record specialists, and they confirmed the information, but were unable to provide the demographic information for each program because they did not have access to the registrar’s reports. The representatives stated that most students who apply for admission enroll in the college transfer and general education programs, so that their credits will transfer to another institution or degree/certificate program later.

According to NC Community College Statistical Reports, there are more students enrolled in transfer (general education) programs than career and technical education programs at Bladen Community College. Approximately 660 students were enrolled in Transfer/General Education programs this year, and approximately 556 students were enrolled in Career/Technical Education programs. Cosmetology, Basic Law Enforcement, and Early Childhood Education, appear to be the most popular career programs, but Bladen Community College should be contacted for the updated enrollment numbers for each program.

These programs are popular among students because they provide access to the most common employment opportunities in the area. There are few industrial opportunities in Bladen County, but law enforcement officers, cosmetologists, and childcare providers are in high demand. As additional law enforcement officers are added, Bladen County will have the ability to increase patrols and improve officer response times in rural areas. If there are more cosmetologists in the area, residents will not feel pressured to travel outside of the county to receive service. If additional childcare is provided, residents will not be forced to compete for access to local childcare facilities. Students have access to a variety of careers after they leave Bladen Community College. Gainful employment opportunities are also available upon completion of the degree programs of nursing, business administration, carpentry, computer information technology, electrical and industrial systems technology, office administration, and welding technology.

Local Businesses 

After reviewing the website and College Catalog, it appears that Bladen Community College does not offer programs in conjunction with local businesses or industries since it is located in a rural area, but a variety of self-supported courses are available for prospective students. Learn more about self-supported course offerings here.

Transfer Students

According to the University of North Carolina’s General Administration, there were 65 students who transferred from Bladen Community College to an institution within the UNC System. The table below displays the number of students that transferred to each institution.

UNC Pembroke	40
Fayetteville State University	15
UNC Wilmington	4
Appalachian State University	2
North Carolina Central University	1
North Carolina State University	1
UNC Charlotte	1
UNC Greensboro	1

 

What do the transfer numbers indicate about Bladen Community College?

As aforementioned, many students decide to attend Bladen Community College so that they can pursue higher education in a location that is convenient for them, and near their hometown. After completing their studies at Bladen Community College, it appears that a majority of the transfer students decide to continue their education at other local institutions. UNC Pembroke, Fayetteville State University, and UNC Wilmington are the public four year institutions that are closest to Bladen Community College, and they receive the highest percentages of transfer students from the institution. Students also attend these institutions for financial reasons. Since they are public universities and close to students’ hometowns, costs for housing, travel, and other personal expenses are decreased.

Students who decide to transfer to other institutions in the UNC system that are further away from Bladen County could be interested in enrolling in a program that is not offered at one of the local four year institutions. For example, students who transfer to NC State University could be interested in veterinary or engineering programs and students who transfer to NC Central University could be interested in a pre-law program.

Students are interested in other institutions, but how do they get there?

Bladen Community College assists students who desire to transfer to other institutions in many ways. In addition to in person advising, publications are included on the college transfer website for students. The publications include college course equivalencies so that students are aware of the courses that will transfer to UNC institutions, and a college transfer brochure is also posted. The brochure lists the courses that students should take at Bladen Community College, so that they can transfer to a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina as a junior upon completion of the program.

Collaborative or Articulation Agreements between Bladen Community College and other institutions are listed on the website. Articulation involves the movement of students or academic credits from one point to another. This could include student movement from two year colleges to universities, and back to two year colleges, or experiential learning for college or university credit (Cohen, Brawer, & Kisker, 2014). Students have access to courses and degree programs that are not currently available at Bladen Community College through articulation agreements. Many of the courses are available online, and students receive program credits from the host institutions.

Dual-enrollment programs are offered for juniors and seniors at local high schools through a College and Career Promise Program. Through dual enrollment programs, high school students have the opportunity to take college courses, earning credit at both institutions (Cohen, Brawer, & Kisker, 2014). Credentials obtained within the program provide an opportunity for students to pursue college transfer and entry level employment opportunities. Bladen Community College offers much support and flexibility for students who plan to transfer to other institutions.

References

Bladen Community College. http://www.bladencc.edu

Cohen, A.M., Brawer, F.B., & Kisker, C.B. (2014). The American community college (6th ed.). San Francisco: Wiley.

College Score Card.

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?198011-Bladen-Community-College

Google Images. https://www.google.com/ (Featured Image originated from http://www.bladencc.edu)

IPEDS. http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/Home/FindYourCollege

University of North Carolina General Administration. https://www.northcarolina.edu/infocenter#interactiveData

 

College Mission, History, and Students

Are you interested in learning more about opportunities for higher education in a rural area? Or do you prefer small classroom settings with opportunities to form personal relationships with your instructor? If so, then Bladen Community college is the right place for you!

History      

Bladen Community College is one of the smaller community colleges located in Southeastern North Carolina. The main campus is located in Dublin, North Carolina, and an extension of the campus is located in East Arcadia, North Carolina. Bladen Community College was originally established as Bladen Technical Institute in 1967, and it was chartered under the authority of North Carolina General Statue 115A. The college became fully operational in September of 1968, with a curriculum that included cosmetology, secretarial science, business administration, industrial maintenance, automotive mechanics, and nursing assistance. Part-time adult programs were offered in the evening in addition to day programs.

The East Arcadia campus opened in 1995, and it provided college access to residents of the East Arcadia community, which is approximately 30 miles away from the main campus. Bladen Community College currently offers 14 degree programs, including post-secondary certificate, diploma, and degree programs. The college is constantly growing and expanding, and growth has increased as a result of distance education opportunities. An open door policy is maintained in order to meet the educational needs of citizens in Bladen and surrounding counties.

Like early community colleges, Bladen Community College was constructed in locations that provide reasonable commuting distances for local citizens. It is a great asset to the local community and surrounding counties, and it provides academic transfer, occupational education, continuing education, developmental education, and community service opportunities (Cohen, Brawer, & Kisker, 2014). I live in Pender County, one of the few counties in North Carolina without a community college of its own. The closest four year institutions to Bladen County are located at least 30 minutes away in Wilmington, Fayetteville, and Pembroke, and they are not as easily accessible to citizens in rural areas who are interested in higher education. As a result, citizens in the surrounding rural areas are drawn to Bladen Community College to pursue higher education in a convenient location.

Mission

Bladen Community College’s Mission Statement was adopted in August of 2015, and it is consistent with historical community college missions. The mission statement reads as follows. “Bladen Community College is dedicated to the educational and cultural enrichment of the local and global communities it serves. The college is committed to quality teaching through both distance and on-site environments for high-order learning, college transfer preparation, work force development training, and entrepreneurship opportunities.”

The institutional goals are to:

• Provide learning opportunities and instruction as necessary for employment or further education
• Provide services necessary for goal achievement
• Provide sufficient funding to secure the best facilities
• Provide educational opportunities, practical learning experiences, and job placement assistance
• Provide an institutional climate that promotes cultural awareness and an appreciation for diversity

The mission statement and institutional goals of the institution correspond with the historical philosophical and functional missions of community colleges. For example, the mission and goals reference job and educational opportunity (philosophical mission), transfer and career education (functional mission), community and cultural awareness (functional mission), and more (Levin & Kater, 2013).

Demographics

The following demographic data for Bladen Community College is based on the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), North Carolina Community College Performance Report of 2015, and North Carolina Community College Statistical Reports for 2015-2016.

Student and Faculty Totals
1,334 students were enrolled at Bladen Community College in 2015-2016, and there were 132 faculty members.

Gender

Male	30%
Female	70%

Age

24 and Under	55%
25 and Over	45%

 

Race

American Indian	15%
Black or African American	36%
Hispanic/Latino	4%
White	42%
Two or More Races	1%
Race/Ethnicity Unknown	3%

 

Attendance Status

Part Time	56%
Full Time	44%

 

Residency

In State	99%
Out of State	1%

 

Credit Enrollment
Curriculum Enrollment Approximate Values
Transfer/General Education (Arts and Sciences)- 660
Career/Technical Education (Agricultural and Technical, Business, Construction, Engineering, Health Sciences, Industrial, Public Service, etc.)- 556
Special Credit (non-degree program)- 142

Continuing Education Enrollment Approximate Values
Basic Skills- 152
Non Occupational- 271
Occupational- 801
Occupational Self-Supported- 79
Arts and Sciences and Business programs appear to be the most popular, and students have achieved much success in cosmetology and nursing programs, with a 100% passing rate in cosmetology in 2014 and over 90% in nursing. Demographics reflect the diversity in the communities that surround the institution. Minority students make up more than half of the student population. There were more African American and American Indian students and fewer Hispanic students compared to the national averages on page 21 of Levin and Kater (2013). Historically, more men attended college than women, but at this institution, there are more female students than male students.

There is something for everyone at Bladen Community College, regardless of age, race, gender, or level of education completed. Learn more about Bladen Community College at http://www.bladencc.edu

Learn More About Bladen Community College, The History of Community Colleges, and North Carolina Community Colleges

Bladen Community College. http://www.bladencc.edu

Cohen, A.M., Brawer, F.B., & Kisker, C.B. (2014). The American community college (6th ed.). San Francisco: Wiley.

IPEDS. http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/Home/FindYourCollege

Levin, J.S. & Kater, S.T. (Eds.). (2013). Understanding community colleges. New York, NY: Routledge.

NC Community Colleges Performance Measures for Student Success 2015. http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/analytics/state-and-federal-performance-measures

NC Community Colleges Statistical Reports. http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/analytics/statistical-reports