2008 Woodie Awards
College Assessment Scores Drop, State Transfer Rates Down
Sindy Diaz
Issue date: 8/25/04 Section: NEWS
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Slightly more than one-third of incoming students at Citrus College have computational skills equivalent to what is taught in the fourth grade.
In this year's convocation address, Viera focused attention on the decreasing number of student transfer rates, at Citrus and statewide alike.
Records show that the annual number of community college transfers to the California State University and University of California systems has declined by nearly 3,500 students, or 6 percent since 1994-95.
"There are a number of variables that determine transfer rates for which we have no control over, such as ethnicity, age and interest," Viera said. "However, there are significant factors over which we do have control over and can make a difference in the rate in which Citrus students transfer to four-year colleges and universities."
In fall 1995, all certificates, degrees and transfer-seeking first-time and full-time students were tracked over a three-year period.
With that compilation, Citrus determined that 32 percent attained a certificate, degree or became "transfer prepared." Twenty-three percent transferred to a CSU or UC.
Viera hopes to develop a frequent tracking system for instructors and counselors so that they become better aware of the student's success.
"With the help of the [tracking system], we ensure that the students continue their education at Citrus to achieve their goals, whether by transferring or entering vocational programs or occupations," he said.
For example, if for fall a new group of students who scored very low, registered and enrolled in Math 020, the counselors could keep track of that specific group of students for the following two years and evaluate if they successfully completed the course and reached transfer-level math.
"That information gives us a way of analyzing what is and is not working for our students," Viera said. "(Tracking students) allows us to figure out where the problems and successes are."
On top of low transfer rates, another negative factor for Citrus is the low assessment scores being generated by incoming students this fall.
In this year's convocation address, Viera focused attention on the decreasing number of student transfer rates, at Citrus and statewide alike.
Records show that the annual number of community college transfers to the California State University and University of California systems has declined by nearly 3,500 students, or 6 percent since 1994-95.
"There are a number of variables that determine transfer rates for which we have no control over, such as ethnicity, age and interest," Viera said. "However, there are significant factors over which we do have control over and can make a difference in the rate in which Citrus students transfer to four-year colleges and universities."
In fall 1995, all certificates, degrees and transfer-seeking first-time and full-time students were tracked over a three-year period.
With that compilation, Citrus determined that 32 percent attained a certificate, degree or became "transfer prepared." Twenty-three percent transferred to a CSU or UC.
Viera hopes to develop a frequent tracking system for instructors and counselors so that they become better aware of the student's success.
"With the help of the [tracking system], we ensure that the students continue their education at Citrus to achieve their goals, whether by transferring or entering vocational programs or occupations," he said.
For example, if for fall a new group of students who scored very low, registered and enrolled in Math 020, the counselors could keep track of that specific group of students for the following two years and evaluate if they successfully completed the course and reached transfer-level math.
"That information gives us a way of analyzing what is and is not working for our students," Viera said. "(Tracking students) allows us to figure out where the problems and successes are."
On top of low transfer rates, another negative factor for Citrus is the low assessment scores being generated by incoming students this fall.