ACTIVITIES
CHERE sponsors meetings and conferences on promising and best practices in retention and first-year experience, “bridge” programs and “seamless support” from high school to college, evolution of developmental education, growth of embedded support, the student debt crisis, and related subjects.
The context that informs these activities is reflected in data focused on Connecticut, and nationwide”
According the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education, of the high school class of 2004:
- 41% completed a postsecondary credential
- 33% were still enrolled
- 26% had no college enrollment
- 13% graduated from a Conn. college or university
Of the high school class of 2010:
- 42% tested for English and math for developmental education at Connecticut community colleges, vs. 26% at Connecticut State Universities.
- 89% of Black students and 80% of Hispanic students tested for developmental education at Connecticut community colleges, vs. 80% and 79% at Connecticut state universities.
Connecticut is not atypical of retention and graduation rates nationally, according to The National Center for First Year Experience and Students in Transition:
- 28% — graduation rate for 2-year institutions in 2010
- 56% — First to second year retention at 2-year colleges
- 65% — First to second year retention at 4-year public colleges and universities
- 67% — First to second year retention 4-year private colleges and universities
