ACC sets goal for 50 percent more completed degrees or certificates

Earlier this month it was reported on the Austin American-Statesman education blog that the Austin Chamber of Commerce would be working to improve the student success rate of students who complete college and earn a certificate or degree at ACC by 50 percent.

The chamber won't actually be working toward the goal.

That goal is part of the Closing the Gaps goals ACC submitted to the Higher Education Coordinating Board earlier this year. The Chamber is publicly supporting ACC for setting this goal.

"It's going to be an internal process within ACC. ACC made a commitment to raise their student success rate in the next ten years," said Drew Scheberle, senior vice president of education and workforce development.

Closing the Gaps is a state-wide initiative ACC elected to participate in.

"This is a meaningful departure in higher education. They are setting institutional goals, whereas most schools just sort of keep doing what they've always done," said Scheberle.

ACC is one of the biggest providers of workforce training in Austin, but there has been some concern that there aren't enough people completing degrees to keep up with the needs of the state.

"Among other things, Closing the Gaps says that Texas will not have enough people in and graduating from college to maintain our current economy and success," said Mike Midgley, the vice president of workforce education and business development.

The goals ACC has set for itself don't just include increasing the rate of degree completion. Student success is measured in different ways at ACC.

"We do want students to earn degrees and certificates, but it depends on what they came here intending to do," said Midgley.

"If you look at our 2020 goals, we would like to be up 50 percent from where we are today, but our mission is twofold. It's completion rates and graduation, as well as transferring students to a four-year university."