2009 Performance Accountability Report Vol. 2 - Maryland Higher ...

Supporting the State Plan action recommendation to expand enrollment capacity in high demand
and workforce shortage areas, Wor-Wic created a new strategic objective to increase student
retention and goal achievement of practical nursing, registered nursing and radiologic technology
students. The college awards almost half of its occupational degrees and certificates in health
services. The number of awards in this area declined from 146 in FY 2005 to 112 in FY 2007,
but increased to 129 in FY 2008. The college strives to reach its benchmark of 180 awards and
has implemented measures to increase retention in its nursing and radiologic technology
programs. About one-fourth of the college’s occupational degrees and certificates are awarded in
public service programs. The number of awards in this area ranged between 62 and 67 over the
past four years. The benchmark of 85 awards was set shortly after a law enforcement technology
certificate was implemented and enrollments have not increased as anticipated. Almost 20
percent of the college’s occupational awards are in business programs. The number of awards in
this area has fluctuated over the past four years, with a high of 75 in FY 2006 and a low of 53 in
FY 2008. The rest of the occupational awards are earned in data processing and engineering
technology, both of which have seen an increase in awards in FY 2008.
The percentage of licensed practical nursing graduates who passed the National Council
Licensing Examination on their first try was 98 percent in FY 2005 and FY 2006, and 100
percent in FY 2007 and FY 2008. The first-try pass rate for registered nursing graduates was
more than 90 percent between FY 2005 and FY 2007 and 89 percent in FY 2008. Improvements
to support services for students as they work in the nursing skills lab are being implemented to
promote student success and retention. The rate for radiologic technology graduates who pass the
certification and licensure examination in radiography on their first try has been 100 percent in
each of the past four years. In FY 2009, program capacity was expanded, tutoring was offered
and an additional instructor was hired to increase the retention of students in the program. More
than two-thirds of the EMT-Paramedic students who took the licensure exam passed on their first
try in FY 2005. The program was changed from full time to part time in FY 2006 and no students
took the exam that year because they required one more year of coursework first. The pass rate
dropped to 18 percent in FY 2007 when the administration of the written exam changed from
paper/pencil to a computerized format. To better prepare students for the computerized written
exam, the college began using new testing software, changed test items to be more applicationbased
than in the past and competency-based testing was piloted for the intermediate-level
students. The pass rate increased to 44 percent in FY 2008.
Wor-Wic maintains relationships with business, industry, government and other community
groups to ensure the relevance of the college’s programs and services. The college is committed
to meeting local needs for a trained work force and supports the State Plan commitment to meet
overall workforce needs. The decrease from 1,919 students in FY 2005 to 1,075 students in FY
2007 who attended contract training is attributed to many local businesses closing, downsizing or
budgeting less money for training due to economic conditions. In FY 2008, contracted workforce
and workplace-related training courses were provided to more than 1,600 employees from almost
40 businesses and organizations. Addressing the college’s strategic objective to increase the
number of courses offered, businesses served and participants served in contract training, new
cooperative projects and expanded training were provided in FY 2008. A mass mailing of a new
workforce training brochure was sent to area businesses in the fall of 2008. At least 97 percent of
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