1. Wed. April 20, 2016 Board of Trustees Meeting
2017 Aspen Prize
Wed. April 20, 2016
Board of Trustees Meeting
Include Kim and Alison

2. Background information
Who: The Aspen Institute (an educational/policy studies organization in DC) What: Identifies top 150 US colleges (measures of student success) When: Every other year (4th round) WCC: Identified in the last 3 rounds, including the 2017 prize cycle Other colleges: Renton, Olympic, South Puget Sound, Pierce Fort Steilacoom, Highline, Everett, Tacoma, and Clark (Walla Walla shared the top prize in 2013)
The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute has campuses in Aspen, Colorado, and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also maintains offices in New York City and has an international network of partners.
The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways:
Seminars, which help participants reflect on what they think makes a good society, thereby deepening knowledge, broadening perspectives and enhancing their capacity to solve the problems leaders face.
Young-leader fellowships around the globe, which bring a selected class of proven leaders together for an intense multi-year program and commitment. The fellows become better leaders and apply their skills to significant challenges.
Policy programs, which serve as nonpartisan forums for analysis, consensus building, and problem solving on a wide variety of issues.
Public conferences and events, which provide a commons for people to share ideas.

3. 3 measures of student success
Performance: persistence, completion, and transfer
Change over time: consistent improvement in outcomes over time
Equity/minority rates: equity in outcomes for students of all racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds
The identification of the top 150 colleges is based on these three areas.
1. Measures of performance: First year retention rates, three-year graduation rates, certificates and degrees awarded per 100 FTE
2. Change over time: Annual change in these measures
3. Equity measures
Graduation rate for URM (African American, Hispanic, and Native American) students
Certificates and degrees awarded per 100 FTE URM students
Low income service area (used instead of Pell eligibility)

4. 3 measures of student success…data
1. Performance
2. Change over time
3. Equity: Minority rates
First-year retention rate
3-year graduation rate
Credentials awarded per 100 FTE students
Performance - year-to-year increase or decrease over 5 years
Average of all colleges
52.1
39.4
35.2
1.7
34.4
21.2
Average of top 152 colleges
58.3
49.8
44.0
2.9
44.8
27.5
WCC
57.8
46.9
59.4
0.0
36.9
34.2

5. Application Completion outcomes Labor market outcomes
Learning outcomes
Equitable outcomes

6. 1. Completion outcomes highlights
English 101+ Early alert Degree plans Record number of associates’ degrees Increase in course completion rates… Face-to-face: 80% in to 83% in WCC online: 73% in to 81% in Increase in retention rates over past 5 years

8. 2. Labor market outcomes highlights
Median annual earnings in 2014… Use of labor market data to develop BAS degree Licensure rates
Whatcom County workers
$25,925
WCC graduates
$29,626
WCC graduates
$41,259
WCC CIS graduates
$35,651
WCC PTA graduates
$43,524
WCC nursing graduates
$49,858
All of these efforts are paying off – literally – for students. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median annual earnings for Whatcom County workers were only $25,925 in WCC students completing degrees find added earning potential. In 2014, WCC graduates earned a median wage of $29,626, while graduates earned $41,259. Graduates from WCC’s renowned CIS program in earned $35,651 in Physical therapist assistant graduates earned a median wage of $43,524 and nursing graduates earned $49,858. Many other graduates transfer to four-year institutions where they go on to earn bachelor’s degrees or professional degrees, with even greater earning potential.
Use of labor market data to develop BAS degree
Licensure rates

9. 3. Learning outcomes highlights
All courses have approved course outcomes Course outcome report as part of faculty professional plan and report

10. Example of a course outcome report
Course outcome report: The course outcome report guides faculty reflection on the teaching, learning, and assessment strategies used in their classes. The report is designed to take faculty through a systematic examination of the connection between a course outcome, teaching and learning strategies, and assessments. Faculty select one course outcome for this report as the insights gained from this process are transferable to other courses.

11. 4. Equitable outcomes highlights
Title III grant Strategic enrollment management goal on equity Disaggregated course completion, retention, and graduation rate graphs for academic transfer and professional-technical students combined

16. Questions