CCV presents new six‑part student success framework and advancement metrics to trustees

The Community College of Vermont presented a new student success framework to trustees on Feb. 10 that the college said captures a broader set of student outcomes than graduation and retention alone.

Heather Weinstein walked trustees through a six‑area model endorsed by CCV's president's council; the model covers access, learning, workforce outcomes and equity, among other areas. Weinstein said each area will include actionable metrics and be socialized across the college this spring.

Amy Chasse described how CCV will set benchmarks and targets. The college will track "credit momentum" — the share of students who complete 24 or more credits in a single academic year — and has set a goal to increase that measure by 5% each year, reaching an 18% rate in five years under current targets. CCV will also use a four‑year "advancement" metric that aggregates still‑enrolled students, graduates and transfers into a single outcome to capture non‑linear student pathways; the college is targeting a 70% advancement rate within four years by the 2029–30 planning horizon.

Trustees asked whether CCV benchmarked advancement against national peers. Weinstein said the metric is adapted from an American Association of Community Colleges metrics manual; CCV compared where possible but selected a four‑year window to better match its students' patterns. Trustees welcomed the broader approach and said it would be useful to continue comparing key targets to peer institutions as CCV refines benchmarks.

CCV framed the metrics as tools to help staff identify interventions — advising, scheduling and credentials stacking — to increase on‑time progress for students who often follow non‑linear enrollment paths. No board action was taken; trustees asked staff to continue reporting progress and peer comparisons.