BCC enrollment goes up, success ratings mostly unchanged

BARSTOW • Barstow Community College demographics and success ratings have not changed much over the years except for an increase in enrollment, according to a college rating report.

The Accountability Report for Community Colleges is published each year by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. It measures a community college based on several factors including graduation rates and the rate of students returning. The report also breaks down the school’s demographics.

According to the 2011 ARCC report, BCC’s enrollment grew  to 7,744 in 2010, up from 6,310 the year before. The number of full-time students also grew to 2,942 in 2010, from 2,675 in 2009.

“We have had a steady increase, really since the economic downturn, I believe it was October 2008,” said BCC spokesperson Maureen Stokes.

Stokes said enrollment has gone up mostly due to people seeking to improve their skills as they’re unable to find work. Also, as four year colleges set maximums for incoming freshman to control enrollment, more and more students are turning to community colleges.

When compared to colleges in similar peer groups, BCC fell behind the peer group average in five of the seven college indicators, the report showed. Sufficient information was not available for one of the indicators.

The percent of students showing intent to complete their education by earning at least 30 units from a community college for BCC was 58 percent, a slight decrease from years past and below the peer group average of 70 percent.

Though BCC’s persistence rate — the number of students returning after their first semester — showed a slight increase to 49 percent, it was still lower than the peer group average of 61 percent.

The only indicator BCC landed above average on was the course completion rate for credited basic skills courses. BCC’s completion rate was 60 percent in 2010, slightly above the average of 57 percent.

There have been almost no changes in the school’s gender and age demographics from years past. The percent of students younger than 20 went up by 3 percent while students 25 and older saw a slight decrease from years past. The BCC’s ethnicity makeup was difficult to analyze as 65 percent of students chose not to respond in 2010. In 2009 only 13 percent chose not to give their ethnicity.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or klucia@desertdispatch.com

By the numbers

Enrollment
7,744 in 2010/6,310 in 2009

Persistence rate
BCC 49 percent/Peer Group 61 percent

Students earning at least 30 units
BCC 58 percent/Peer Group 70 percent

Course completion rate for credited basic skills courses
BCC 60 percent/Peer Group 57 percent