Danville Area Community College is looking to set a new graduation rate record for its open enrollment, community college days. President Dr. Stephen Nacco says the highest graduation rate for DACC, based upon full time students graduating within three years, was 43% in 2018.
When the final numbers for the recently graduated class become official in August, with some students finishing up during the summer, both Dr. Nacco and Provost and Vice-President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Carl Bridges are expecting a rate perhaps as high as 47%. Dr. Nacco says this is an extraordinary number for a community college.
AUDIO: The national average for community colleges, open admission, is in the range of 22%; so that would put us more than double the national average. It’s a testament to our faculty; and really their hard work to keep our students here. It’s the Board of Trustees’ investment in something like customer relationship management; which allows us to stay real time in touch with our students, and making sure they’re on track to graduate.
(1st Picture) DACC Provost and Vice-President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Carl Bridges. (2nd Picture) DACC President Dr. Stephen Nacco.
During this past Thursday evening’s (June 27th) DACC Board of Trustees meeting, Dr. Bridges previewed the new online student catalog and handbook that’s been in the works. Dr. Bridges mentioned that it’s arranged alphabetically by subject matter; because quite often students don’t just come in and just say, “I want an Associate’s Degree” or “I want a certificate.” Instead, it’s usually, “THIS is what I’m interested in.” Dr. Bridges says that this way, a student interested in welding, for example, can go right to it and find all the options DACC has for that interest.
Dr. Nacco agrees that reorganizing the catalog will help with that.
AUDIO: That catalog is their contract with us. That’s where they decide; they could start which pathway they want. So, it’s easier to find your path if you’re looking for disciplines that you might be interested in.
The new catalog and student handbook should be ready to go for this coming fall semester at DACC.
