(DURHAM, N.C.) - Durham Technical Community College received high marks in the recently released 2008 N.C. Community College System’s Critical Success Factors “report card” to the N.C. General Assembly and the state’s citizens. This year Durham Tech met seven of the eight benchmarks, missing one by just a few points. 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. This year the college excelled through its University Transfer program and its customized workforce training. Also, Durham Tech students gave the college high praise for the quality of its programs and services.      

There were some changes in this year’s Critical Success Factors Report. Traditionally there have been 12 Critical Success Factors and now there are eight. Also, the state standard for passing Developmental courses was recently increased.  

Some Highlights:
Performance of College Transfer Students – Durham Tech students in the University Transfer program continued to perform well at four-year University of North Carolina institutions. In the 2008 report, 91 percent of Durham Tech transfer students had a grade point average (GPA) higher than 2.0 after one year at a UNC institution. The state standard is 83 percent.    

Student Satisfaction of Completers and Non-Completers – Students who completed their studies, and as well as those who were unable to, all gave the college a satisfaction rating of 98 percent for the quality of its programs and services, much higher than the NCCCS standard of 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 90 percent approval rating for the services, which was also the statewide standard.

Other areas:

Curriculum Student Retention and Graduation: At DTCC, 66 percent of students remained in college or graduated. The NCCCS standard is 65 percent. 

Success Rate of Developmental Students in Subsequent College-Level Courses: At Durham Tech 91 percent of students taking developmental courses to prepare for their college work succeeded in the 'gatekeeper' English and/or mathematics course. These are the courses for which the developmental course served as a prerequisite. The state standard was 80 percent.

Progress of Basic Skills Students: Data showed that 79 percent of Durham Tech basic skills students made progress. The NCCCS standard was 75 percent.
 
Passing Rates of Students in Developmental Courses:  Recently the state standard for the percentage of students passing Developmental courses was changed from 70 percent to 75 percent. Durham Tech missed meeting the new standard by a few points – 72 percent of DTCC developmental students passed their courses. This is one of the six performance funding measures.

Passing Rates on State Licensure and Certification: The state standard is an 80 percent institutional passing rate for first-time test takers. DTCC passed this measurement with 84 percent of all test takers passing the exams. However, one exam resulted in a 20 percent pass rate. To qualify for Exceptional Institutional Performance, all those sitting for exams must have a passing rate of 70 percent. This is one of the six performance funding measures.