Student Achievement

Commensurate with our commitment to “excellence in teaching and learning, Albany State University offers a “broad array of graduate, baccalaureate, associate, and certificate programs”. In line with the mission of the University, the specific ASU Goals to “Aspire to Excellence” and “Expand Access to Higher Education”, reflect an institution wide commitment to retaining, supporting, and graduating our students in a timely fashion.

To that end, ASU establishes appropriate and measurable targets and outcomes for our students based on program type, our student demographic and the overall mission of the University.

 

Criterion for Achievement: Retention Rates

The University annually monitors first-year retention rates of undergraduate first-time, full-time degree-seeking students as a measure of the success of its undergraduate programs.  The data below reflects both pre-and post-consolidated ASU.

The target for the retention rate of first time undergraduate students at ASU are 1) to exceed the median of ASU’s SACSCOC peer institutions, or 2) to exceed the University’s previous year’s rate.

For the Fall 2016 cohort, the range of first-year undergraduate retention rates for ASU’s SACSCOC peer institutions was 59%-78%, and the average was 69%.

Minimal threshold for achieving student success: 60%

Cohort Semester Retention Semester Cohort Size Performance
Fall 2019 Fall 2020 1,322 71.1%
Fall 2018 Fall 2019 1,517 61.2%
Fall 2017 Fall 2018 1,378 55.4%
Fall 2016 Fall 2017 791 63.1%
Fall 2015 Fall 2016 1,193 55.0%

 Source: USG First-Time Full-Time Retention Rates

 

Criterion for Achievement: Six-Year Graduation Rates

The University annually monitors its six-year baccalaureate graduation rates of first-time full-time degree-seeking students as a measure of success of its undergraduate program.  The data below are for pre- and post-consolidated ASU data.

For the Fall 2011 cohort, the range for six-year baccalaureate graduation rates for ASU's SACSCOC peer institutions was 28%-49%, and the average was 39%.

The target for the six-year baccalaureate graduate rates are 1) to exceed the average of ASU's SACSCOC peer institutions or 2) to exceed the University's previous year's graduation rate.

Minimal threshold for achieving student success: 39%

Cohort Semester Graduation Year Cohort Size Performance
Fall 2014 2019-2020 428 41.4%
Fall 2013 2018-2019 508 37.2%
Fall 2012 2017-2018 495 35.2%
Fall 2011 2016-2017 1,028 33.7%
Fall 2010 2015-2016 883 30.7%

 Source: ASU Division of Institutional Effectiveness

 

Criterion for Achievement: Three-Year Graduation Rates

The University annually monitors its three-year graduation rates of first-time full-time Associate degree-seeking students as a measure of success of its Associate degree programs.  The data below reflect both pre- and post-consolidated ASU data. The national average three-year graduation rate for Associate degrees earned in community colleges was used at the minimum threshold for achieving student success.

The targets for the three-year graduation rates are to exceed the median of the University's previous year's three-year graduation rates.

Minimal threshold for achieving student success: 25%

Cohort Semester Graduation Year Cohort Size Performance
Fall 2017 2019-2020   781  4.6%
Fall 2016 2018-2019  355  11.3% 
Fall 2015 2017-2018 713 12.3%
Fall 2014 2016-2017 776 16.9%
Fall 2013 2015-2016 901 15.0%

 Source: ASU Division of Institutional Effectiveness

 

Degrees Conferred

The University annually monitors the number of undergraduate degrees conferred as a success of its undergraduate programs. The target for undergraduate degrees conferred is to meet or exceed the average of the University's previous three years' numbers. The minimum threshold serves to ensure that our numbers don’t drop below levels approximating those we have maintained over the last several years

Minimal threshold for achieving student success: 1,362

Type of Degree FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020
Transfer Associates 409 428 276 248 217
Career Associate 489 471 372 305 332
Bachelor's 603 556 482 449 507
Total 1,501 1,455 1,130 1,002 1,056

 Source: ASU Division of Institutional Effectiveness

 

Health Sciences State and National Board Pass Rates

Currently, ASU’s Health Sciences programs are accredited by twelve specialized accrediting agencies (9). Albany State University tracks achievement on National and State licensure exams offered through these agencies. Where applicable, the results are also included as a part of the Assessment for Improvement Reports where the exam scores are indicated as a measure for Student Learning Outcomes.

The target scores or minimal threshold for achieving student success was determined by the faculty of the Darton College of Health Professions and based on: 1) past student performance, 2) requirements from specialized accrediting bodies and agencies, and 3) state averages of effective measures.

  FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018  FY 2019 Target Pass Rate (%)
Nursing (RN) 87 87 78 87 80
Nursing (BSN) 71 92 86 93 80
Advanced EMT 100 75  70   70 
Paramedic 75 78 91   70 
Dental Hygiene 87 83 100 83 70 
Diagnostic Medical Sonography 100 100 100 74 60 
Histologic Technology 88 88 80 89 75
Health Information Technology 77 83 100 88 70
Medical Lab Technology 80 80 80 78 75
Occupational Therapy Assistant 86 91 96 80 80
Physical Therapy Assistant 100 100 100 100 80
Radiologic Science 86 90 90 90 80
Respiratory Therapy 94 90  800 87 80 

 Source: ASU Division of Institutional Effectiveness

 

Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Pass Rates

GACE is Georgia’s state-approved educator certification assessment program.  These computer-delivered assessments have been developed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and Educational Testing Service (ETS).  The purpose of the GACE assessments is to help the GaPSC ensure that candidates have the knowledge and skills needed to perform the job of an educator in Georgia’s public schools.  The data below are for pre- and post-consolidated ASU. 

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) has an 80% or higher pass rate requirement. ASU’s minimum threshold is set according to this requirement.

Minimal Threshold for Student Achievement: 80% 

  2015-2016   2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019
Number Taking Assessment1 57 64 37 49
Number Passing Assessment2 57 63 36 48
Institutional Pass Rate 100% 98% 97% 98%

 Note: In cases where there are less than ten students taking the assessment or license/certificate, the number passing and pass rate are not reported.

* The data provided in this row (or column) represents combined data from Albany State University and Darton State College. These institutions were officially consolidated in January 2017 into one university, named Albany State University, by the University System of Georgia.

1 Number of completers taking one or more assessments within their area of specialization.

2 Summary level “Number Taking Assessment” may differ from assessment level “Number Taking Assessment” because each student is counted once at the summary level but may be counted in multiple assessments at the assessment level.