Final Report from the Task Force on Retention and Completion Rates at the Community Colleges - According to the national data (IPEDS), the average community college graduation rate for first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students in Massachusetts was 17.4% in 2005, as compared to the national average of 21.5%. A Massachusetts task force developed goals and recommendations to increase the success and educational goal attainment for all community college students. The three goals include: increase the graduation rate for first-time, full-time, degree seeking students who complete their program within seven years; develop comprehensive student success measures for all community college students; and leverage financial resources to implement task force recommendations. (Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, February 2007)...

Measuring Up 2006 - The fourth in a series of biennial report cards, this report is designed to provide the public and policymakers with information to assess and improve postsecondary education in each state. This Web site provides state leaders, policymakers, researchers and others with access to the national report card as well as access to all fifty state report cards. In addition, the site can compare any state with the best-performing states in each performance category, compare indicator scores and state grades for any performance category, obtain source and technical information for indicators and weights, and allow visitors to download the reports. Further, the Web site has the capacity to view previous report cards from 2000, 2002 and 2004....

Florida’s Postsecondary Institutions Employ a Variety of Support Services for Students - This report provides information on the strategies Florida’s institutions of higher education use to facilitate timely degree completion and increase graduation and retention rates. The report answers two questions: (1) What percentage of university students do not graduate within six years and what percentage of community college students do not graduate within four years? and (2) what support services do institutions of higher learning use to encourage students to stay in school and graduate? In addition, an appendix to the report shows the student support services provided by Florida’s public and private universities and community colleges. (Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability, June 2006) ...

Student Tracking Systems Can Be Used to Enhance Graduation and Retention Rates - This report provides information on how Florida universities inform students of graduation requirements, track their progress and schedule the classes they need to graduate in a timely manner. The report includes an appendix that identifies each state university's efforts in these areas. (Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability, May 2006) ...