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

Diversity
Chesapeake College embraces Goal 3 of the 2009 State Plan, which aims to ensure opportunity
for Maryland’s diverse citizenry. Through the college’s new strategic plan and its crossdivisional
tactical plans, college staff and faculty extend themselves to ensure all citizens have
equal opportunity and access to quality postsecondary education. The college closely monitors
at-risk student populations through the early alert system (first-generation, under-represented
minority and low-income students) and works diligently through research and institutional policy
changes to close achievement gaps.
All indicators in this category were updated and the college achieved one out of five future
benchmarks accountable to the Commission. While it was noted that the college experienced
less than a percentage point decline in minority student enrollment compared to the service area
population (19%), the diversity in student enrollment (18%), is still reflective of the region. The
percentage of minorities among full-time faculty slightly increased to 14%, while the percentage
of minorities among full-time administrative and professional staff remained at 13%.
The college closely monitors minority populations to ensure equality and has created the new
position of Director of First-Year Programs to promote retention and student success efforts
through oversight of such programs as the Success and Interactive Learning (SAIL) and First-
Generation Male Success Program. For the degree analysis of minority cohorts, all cohorts are
small and performance demonstrates high variability in success rates. The 2004 African
American cohort size slightly declined from the previous cohort, although this cohort achieved a
successful-persister rate of 57% for a second year, surpassing the 2006 cohort benchmark of
55%. The 2004 African American cohort’s graduation transfer rate improved by 10 percentage
points from the previous cohort to 33%; moving closer to the 2006 benchmark of 40%. While
performance has improved, future improvement is expected through the college’s new Diversity
Plan and current efforts within cross-divisional tactical plans.
Economic Growth and Vitality, Workforce Development
Community collaborations and workforce development is another important theme of the
college’s new strategic plan; making Goal 5, Economic Growth and Vitality, of the 2009 State
Plan an institutional priority. The college is always scanning the environment and connecting
with business leaders in the region to ensure appropriate and quality program offerings to build a
quality workforce for the college’s service region.
The college achieved nine out of the twenty-four future benchmarks accountable to the
commission. Seven out of ten indicators presented new data. Fiscal year 2008 data
demonstrated performance improvements and preliminary fiscal year 2009 numbers demonstrate
a positive trend with anticipated achievement of additional benchmarks.
In FY2008, 143 occupational program Associates degrees and credit certificates were awarded,
with FY2009 preliminary numbers demonstrating positive and healthy growth. In FY2008, a
significant increase is noted in Business, Engineering & Technology and Public Service, but
slight declines occurred in Health Services and Natural Science. As aforementioned, Data
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