How to Measure Student Success? Toward Consideration of Student Resilience as a Metric of Success in Institutional Accountability Frameworks

Authors

Elvira Abrica, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6140-5325

Date of this Version

2018

Citation

Published in Community College Journal of Research and Practice 42:7-8 (2018), pp 569–573.

doi 10.1080/10668926.2018.1429962

Comments

Copyright © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Used by permission.

Abstract

Rates of student success—four-year transfer, degree, and certificate completion— are frequently discussed. Less frequent, however, are opportunities to reflect on how these outcomes are measured. In this paper, I reflect on how rates of success—specifically for men of color—are calculated based on two California institutional accountability frameworks. First, I compared measures of success for men of color using the methodologies outlined by each framework. Secondly, I explored enrollment data of men of color who did not transfer or complete a degree or certificate after six years, those who would not be counted by either framework. Findings indicate that some students who did not complete or transfer after six years were enrolled for several consecutive terms, demonstrating what I posit is an indicator of student resilience.