October 28, 2005

Institutional Research: Both Practical and Vital

Why data will help colleges improve student retention

By VANESSA SMITH MOREST and THOMAS BAILEY

Community colleges play a crucial role in increasing access to higher education for a wide range of students. According to our research using the National Education Longitudinal Study, the majority of students who enroll initially in these institutions do not earn degrees or certificates even eight years after their scheduled high-school graduation. While it is true that many community-college students do not enroll in those institutions with the intent to graduate or transfer, the low