The Michigan Community College Association (MCCA) strategic plan, adopted in 2022, focuses on promoting equitable student success through policy, practice, and research. MCCA evaluates success by analyzing both leading indicators (college access and momentum) and lagging indicators (completion and employment outcomes), using disaggregated data across demographics. In support of its vision for student success, MCCA established the Equitable Measures of Student Success to assess and enhance diverse student outcomes.
Ensuring equitable and early access to post-secondary education is vital for Michigan to achieve its credential attainment goals. Colleges should focus their efforts on expanding dual enrollment, designing effective and evidence-based student onboarding practices, and targeted enrollment strategies to support recent high school graduates, adult learners, and specific academic programs.
Thoroughly reviewing institutional policies and practices can help devise sound solutions that increase opportunities for students to gain program momentum. Disaggregating measures of fall-to-fall retention, gateway course completion, and credit accumulation helps colleges to identify equity gaps that can be targeted for continuous improvement and reform.
Data from the Community College Research Center shows that earning an associate degree prior to transferring to a four-year college or university increases the likelihood that students will subsequently earn a bachelor’s degree. Carefully considering academic programs, leading indicators, and characteristics commonly linked to attrition can help institutions generate precise and effective practices aimed at increasing degree attainment for all students.
Statewide labor demands and evolving industry needs underscore the need to increase degree attainment across Michigan. Examining the employment outcomes and financial stability of graduates acknowledges equity gaps that persist beyond degree completion. Addressing these gaps is essential for ensuring access to livable-wage employment opportunities for all.