July 19, 2010
For immediate use

(Durham, N.C.) – Durham Technical Community College recently received high marks in the 2010 N.C. Community College System’s Critical Success Factors “report card” to the N.C. General Assembly and the state’s citizens. For the 2008-2009 academic year, Durham Tech met seven of the eight benchmarks. The Critical Success Factors indicate how well the state’s 58 community colleges are meeting statewide performance measures and serving students, business and industry, and the community. Once again, the college’s success rate for transfer students was strong. Customized workforce training received high marks. Students also gave the college high marks for the quality of its programs and services.      

Performance of University Transfer Students – Durham Tech students continued to perform well at four-year University of North Carolina System institutions. In the 2010 report, 89 percent of Durham Tech’s transfer students had a grade point average (GPA) above a 2.0 after one year at a UNC System institution. The state standard is 83 percent and the N.C. Community College System average is 85 percent.     

Student Satisfaction of Completers and Non-Completers – Of the students who completed their studies at Durham Tech, as well as those who did not finish, 92 percent were satisfied with the quality of the college’s programs and services. The state standard is 90 percent.

Business/Industry Satisfaction with Services Provided – Durham Tech also received high marks for customized training to area companies and agencies. Clients gave a 93 percent approval rating for these services, which exceeds the statewide standard of 90 percent.

“I am once again very proud of Durham Tech's performance on these critical success factors,” said Dr. Bill Ingram, president of the college. “The results of Durham Tech’s “report card” to our citizens this year reflect wide-ranging excellence in all of our programs and services – basic skills, corporate and continuing education, developmental education, career and technical programs, and university transfer. These results are due to our dedicated faculty and staff and their commitment to our students and the college.”    

Other Critical Success Factors Reported:
Curriculum Student Retention and Graduation: At Durham Tech, the Fall-to-Fall Semester retention rate for curriculum students is 68 percent. The state standard is 65 percent. 

Progress of Basic Skills Students: Data showed that 79 percent of Durham Tech’s Basic Skills students made progress during 2008-2009. Basic Skills students attend college to improve their basic literacy skills or complete their high school education. The state standard is 75 percent.

Passing Rates of Students in Developmental Courses: Of the students taking developmental education courses, 74 percent passed their courses, up from 68 percent last year. The state standard is 75 percent. This is the only measurement in which Durham Tech did not meet the state standard. Currently Durham Tech requires a B average to pass developmental education courses instead of the C average required at other community colleges. This policy, stricter than those at most of the state’s community colleges, has resulted in the overall lower pass rate, causing the college to fall below the state standard. As the next Critical Success Factor indicates, Durham Tech students then go on to succeed at higher levels.

Success Rate of Developmental Students in Subsequent College-Level Courses: At Durham Tech, 95 percent of students taking developmental education courses to prepare for their college work succeeded in the ‘gatekeeper’ English and/or mathematics courses. This figure is up from 91 percent last year. The developmental education courses serve as a prerequisite for these English and mathematics courses. The state standard is 80 percent.

Passing Rates on State Licensure and Certification: The state standard for first-time test takers is an 80 percent combined passing rate. At Durham Tech, 85 percent of all test takers passed state licensure and certification exams.