RCC Achieves 'Superior' Rating; Enrollment
Continues Upward Climb

ASHEBORO, N.C.--Randolph Community College has achieved a rating of "superior" from the North Carolina Community College System for meeting five of six performance funding measures for the 2001-2002 school year. This rating makes RCC eligible for performance funding, if and when such funding is available from the state.

RCC has made significant improvements in several performance measures over the last three years, according to President Richard T. Heckman. There are a total of 12 performance measures for accountability, adopted by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges in 1999, six of which are tied to funding (basic skills students' progress, license/certification pass rates, goal completion, graduate employment, college transfer performance, and student satisfaction). RCC showed improvement in seven of 12 performance measures over the three-year period, and in nine performance measures over last year. For the last reporting period, RCC met or exceeded performance standards in 11 of the 12 areas.

The areas where RCC has made significant improvement include the passing rates of students in developmental English, math, or reading courses; employer satisfaction with graduates; and a standard that measures the viability of program offerings. Other areas where RCC showed improvement include student goal completion and student satisfaction.

Laura Douglas, vice president for instructional and student services at RCC, said the improvements can be attributed mainly to the work of RCC's exceptional faculty and staff and to a "revamping of our systems and policies." J. Keith Brown, associate vice president for planning & research for the NCCCS, said "the measures demonstrate the excellent job our community colleges do in educating and training the citizens of North Carolina."

As another measure of success, enrollment growth continues its upward climb at RCC. Spring semester enrollment was 2,147, an increase of 13% over spring 2002, according to Douglas. RCC enrolled 1,246 students for the summer session, compared to 1,061 in 2002. "In addition, the admissions office has received 131 more applications for fall than at the same time last year," said Douglas, "and the financial aid office has already processed 1,006 financial aid applications for the 2003-2004 school year." Douglas said the increased enrollment at RCC can be attributed to an inventory of programs and services that better meets the needs of the community, new and creative marketing and recruitment, an effective enrollment management process, a poor economy, and the high unemployment rate.