Operational Definitions

The following definitions are used internally at Riverside Community College District to ease communication about information. When possible, these reflect common definitions which have been established by the RP Group so that meaning is added to data analyzed consistently over time, in relation to appropriate comparison groups used by CA community college researchers.

Course Enrollment: Student is enrolled in course and receives a valid grade notation at the time the college MIS data tape is submitted to the State Chancellor's Office (Approved June 1996)

Valid grade notations: A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, W, I (Incomplete)

Invalid grade notations: No grade of record (NGR), Report Delayed (RD), In Progress (IP)

Course Retention I (for comparing colleges to each other and for comparing departments between colleges)

Definition
Student is retained in the course to end of term. A, B, C, D, CR, I grade notations (Approved June 1996)

Retention Rate
Percent of students retained in courses out of total enrolled in courses
The retention rate is calculated by dividing the numerator by the denominator and multiplying by 100

Numerator
Number of students (duplicated) with A, B, C, D, CR, I

Denominator
Number of students (duplicated) with A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, W, I

Course Retention II
(for comparing colleges to each other and for comparing colleges to the CCC system-wide rate)

Definition
Student is retained in the course to end of term. A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, I grade notations (Approved June 1996)

Retention Rate
Percent of students retained in courses out of total enrolled in courses
The retention rate is calculated by dividing the numerator by the denominator and multiplying by 100

Numerator
Number of students (duplicated) with A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, I

Denominator
Number of students (duplicated) with A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, W, I

Course Completion

Definition
None. Thought to be too similar to and less relevant than retention/success measures (June 1996)

Course Success

Definition
Student succeeds in the course. A, B, C, CR grade notations (Approved June 1996)

Success Rate

Percent of students successful in courses out of total enrolled in courses
The success rate is calculated by dividing the numerator by the denominator and multiplying by 100

Numerator
Number of students (duplicated) with A, B, C, CR

Denominator
Number of students (duplicated) with A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, W, I

Term to Term Persistence

Definition
Student persists from one term to the next term (Approved June 1996)

First Term
Student is enrolled in at least one course. A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, W, I grade notations

Next Term
Student is enrolled in at least one course. A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, W, I grade notations

Persistence Rate
Percent of students enrolled in next term out of students enrolled in first term
The persistence rate is calculated by dividing the numerator by the denominator and multiplying by 100

Numerator
Number of students with at least one course with A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, W, I in the next term (x 100)

Denominator
Number of students with at least one course with A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, W, I in the first term

Transfer Ready

Definition
The rate by which a first-time entering freshmen cohort meets the basic transfer requirements for admittance to California State University. (Approved October 2000)

Transfer Directed
All freshmen enrolled in any transfer level English course and in any transfer level math course within three years, and within six years of admission.

Transfer Ready
The rate by which the transfer directed student cohort completes 56+ transfer units with a 2.0+ GPA at both three and six years, including the successful completion of any transfer level English and any transfer level math course, earning grades A, B, C, or Credit.