Planning and Research - Pasadena City College

Planning and Research

Accountability Reporting for the Community Colleges (ARCC)

Accountability Reporting for the Community Colleges(ARCC) is a mutual commitment by the State of California and the Community Colleges (CCC) system to improve student performance on seven indicators. ARCC replaces the Partnership for Excellence (PFE). The seven indicators and a definition for each follows. For more information on the cohort, outcomes, and courses ( if applicable) that apply to each indicator at PCC, please click here ARCC Guidelines.

Indicator 1: Student Progress and Achievement Rate

First-time students*who earn a minimum of 12 units and attempt a degree/certificate/transfer threshold course within six years of entry and achieve ANY of the following outcomes within six years of entry: **

Earned any AA/AS or Certificate (18 or more units).
Actual transfer to four-year Institution after enrollment in a CCC.
Achieved “Transfer Directed" a student is considered to be “Transfer Directed” when he/she successfully completes both transfer- level Math AND English courses.
Achieved “Transfer Prepared” A student is considered “Transfer Prepared” when he/she has completed 60 units that are transferable to UC or CSU and have a GPA ≥ 2.0 in those courses.

Indicator 2: Percent of Students Who Earned at Least 30 Units

First-time students* who earn 12 units and attempt a degree/certificate/transfer threshold course within six years of entry and complete at least 30 units while in the CCC system within 6 years of entry.** This is called a "value-added" measure. The value-added threshold of 30 units earned supports a positive effect on future earnings.

Indicator 3: Persistence Rate

First-time students* who earn a minimum of six units in their first Fall term at a CCC who return and enroll in the subsequent Fall term anywhere in the system.** PE theory and activity courses are excluded from the units earned.

Indicator 4: Annual Successful Course Completion Rate—Vocational Courses (Credit)

Annual rate of successful course completion in Vocational courses. Success is defined by a final course grade of A, B, C, or CR and being retained to the end of the term or end of course. Vocational courses with a SAM code of A, B, or C only.

Indicator 5: Annual Successful Course Completion Rate—Basic Skills Courses (Credit)

Annual rate of successful course completion in Basic Skills courses. Succes is defined as having been retained to the end of the term or end of the course and a final course grade of A, B, C or CR. The course must be designated as a basic skills course by the college.

Indicator 6: Credit ESL Improvement Rate

Percentage of students who successfully complete at least one credit ESL course in a term and successfully complete a higher level credit ESL course or a college level course in selected disciplines within two years of taking the first ESL course. Students must start two or more levels below transfer level.

Indicator 7: Credit Basic Skills Improvement Rate

Percentage of students who successfully complete at least one credit Basic Skills course in a term and successfully complete a higher level Basic Skills course in the same discipline (reading, writing, math, respectively) or a college level or transfer level course in the same discipline within two years of taking the first Basic Skills course. Students must start two or more levels below transfer level.

NOTE: *1. In all definitions “first time students” refers to students who are new to any college for the first time i.e. any student who has taken a college course anywhere is excluded. **2. For ARCC indicators 1,2, and 3 the Outcomes can be completed anywhere in the CCC system.

Revised October 9, 2006 by sawilcox@pasadena.edu