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SACS Federal Requirement 4.1

Federal Requirement 4.1 The institution evaluates success with respect to student achievement including, as appropriate, consideration of course completion, State licensing examination, and job placement rates.

Judgment of Compliance

X Compliance

Compliance Narrative

An examination of the mission of Clayton State University reveals that student success is at the core of the institutional value system: "University graduates communicate effectively, think critically, learn and work collaboratively, demonstrate competence in their chosen field, and possess the capability of adapting to changing circumstances and new challenges." Further evidence is provided by an examination of the strategic planning themes, one of which is focused on student success, and "ensuring that [students] are well-prepared to achieve personal and professional goals and to be ethical and productive citizens." As is appropriate for a baccalaureate and graduate level institution, the mission of the Office of Career Services focuses on the acquisition of the skills and knowledge necessary for career development.

To assess student achievement and success, Clayton State University monitors a variety of indices: course completion, graduation rates, the results of the various licensure examinations, employment rates via graduate surveys, and job placement data.

Course Completion and Graduation Rates

Clayton State University regularly evaluates the success of its students by analyzing student grades by major/course prefix each semester. There are also regular analyses of graduation rates for the academic programs and retention rates for various populations of students. This information is shared with the President’s Cabinet, Deans, and Department Heads. Additionally, the institution employs a full-time Dean of Retention and Student Success who uses the results of these data for the planning and improvement of various activities such as advising, tutoring, freshmen learning communities, and supplemental instruction for particularly difficult courses. The institution has also developed a University Foundations course that helps new students make a successful transition to CSU.

Graduate and Employer Data

The University System of Georgia conducts a survey of graduates and employers and provides each college and university with reports on the results.

Licensing Examinations

Results for licensing examinations, including pass rates, are maintained by the appropriate academic units. Data are available for students in the Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and Teacher Education programs; these data affirm the strong achievement levels of the graduates of these programs.

Examples are provided for the National council licensure examination -- RN, for Nursing graduates and the Dental Hygiene Clinical Board for Dental Hygiene graduates. The licensure pass rates are excellent for these professional programs at CSU, with Nursing averaging a 91% first-time pass rate for the period 2005-2009 and Dental Hygiene experiencing a 100% pass rate for the same time period. Further, teacher education graduates consistently score above 85% on the GACE PRAXIS exam.

Supporting Documentation and Links

Grade Distribution, Retention and Graduation Rates

Licensure Rates

USG Survey of Employers

USG Survey of Graduates