STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT DATA

Key Performance Indicators: Course Success, Retention, Completion, and Post-Graduation Outcomes

Indian River State College is dedicated to student achievement and success. To monitor performance related to this focus on student success, Indian River State College has identified four key performance indicators (KPIs) of student achievement that align with the College’s mission. The KPIs include (1) successful course completion rates for gateway English and mathematics, (2) retention rates, (3) graduation rates, and (4) job placement/continuing education rates.

Course Success Rates of Gateway Math and Gateway English Courses 

IRSC identified gateway course success rates as a good indicator of student achievement because they provide an overview of student achievement at or near the beginning of the student’s academic career. For the purpose of this measure, the College is using the Florida Department of Education’s definition of gateway English and math courses. As defined by Section (S.) 1008.02, Florida Statutes (F.S.), “Gateway course” means the first course that provides transferable, college-level credit allowing a student to progress in his or her program of study. According to this State statute, the following are “gateway courses” offered at IRSC:

• ENC 1101 Freshman Composition Skills I Communication/General Education Core
• MAC 1105 College Algebra Mathematics/ General Education Core
• MGF 1106/ MGF2106 Mathematics for Liberal Arts I Mathematics/ General Education Core
• MGF 1107/ MGF2107 Mathematics for Liberal Arts II Mathematics/ General Education Core
• STA 2023 Statistical Methods I Mathematics/ General Education Core

The College regularly reviews student success rates in each of these key courses. To establish achievement goals, IRSC examines success rates over the previous four years. Goals are determined based on the previous years’ rate and the average rate of change. [Goal= Previous year’s rate + ((Maximum rate – Minimum rate) / (Number of years – 1))]. Previous performance along with achievement goals are identified in the table below.

Course Success Rates of Gateway Math and Gateway English Courses with Thresholds and Goals for 2023-2024

Source: Florida Department of Education (FLDOE)

Fall to Fall Retention Rate of First-Time-in-College, Degree/Certificate-Seeking Students 

IRSC identified fall to fall retention rates of first time, degree seeking students as an appropriate measure because this is an important indicator of student achievement in that it is related to and promotes timely student completion. This measure is also a standard metric that IRSC reports to federal and state governing bodies each year.

Because this is an important measure that leads to student completion, IRSC chose to use its own retention data rather than that from other sources to avoid a lag in reporting time and the related inability to act in a timely manner. The College’s goal reflects the institution’s efforts to continue improving its retention rates. The goal was set to increase the most recent year’s rate by the annual rate of change of the past four years [Goal= Previous year’s rate + ((Maximum rate – Minimum rate) / (Number of years – 1))], and it is outlined below. 

Fall to Fall Retention Rate of First-Time-in-College, Degree/Certificate-Seeking Students (First Year Graduates Count as Retained) with Threshold and Goal for the 2024 Cohort

2025 Cohort

Source: IRSC Data, with Retention Definitions Set Forth by National Student Clearinghouse

Six-Year Completion Rate of First-Time-in-College, Degree/Certificate-Seeking Students 

In an effort to better understand, support, and monitor student success and completion, SACSCOC asked all member institutions to identify a key undergraduate student completion metric. In response, IRSC selected the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) six-year completion rate. IRSC has identified this measure as one of our metrics used to document student success. This data was chosen as an appropriate indicator of the College’s performance related to the graduation of its students, whether they attended on a part-time or full-time basis. Including this metric as a key performance indicator of student achievement also ensures that the College will monitor and review the associated data annually in compliance with SACSCOC expectations. IRSC’s performance for this measure is identified in the following table.

Six-Year Completion Rates of First-Time-in-College, Degree/Certificate-Seeking Students (Completing at Any Institution) with Threshold and Goal for the 2019 Cohort

2020 Cohort

Source: National Student Clearinghouse Cohort Tracker

Continuing Education/Job Placement Rates of Graduates

IRSC chose continuing education and job placement rates of all graduates as a key performance indicator of student achievement because this measure focuses on the achievement of post-graduation and professional goals.

The College reviews data annually and establishes student achievement goals for placement/continuing education rates. For 2020-21, the goals were determined based on our students’ outcome data for the most recent four years. To reflect the College’s focus on continued improvement, the goals were set to increase the most recent year’s rate by the annual rate of change of the past four years [Goal= Previous year’s rate + ((Maximum rate – Minimum rate) / (Number of years – 1))]. IRSC’s performance for this metric is shown below.

Continuing Education/Job Placement Rates of Graduates, with Threshold and Goal for the 2023-24 Graduates

Source: Florida Education & Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP)

*AA, AS, BS, BAS, PSV and PSAV. Other degree data was not available in all or some of these years.