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Reynolds Community College reports enrollment and retention gains, highlights workforce programs
Summary
At an informal Richmond City Council meeting, a representative of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College reported double-digit enrollment growth, rising retention and credential completion, expansion of ESL services, a Toyota-certified automotive program and strong nursing exam pass rates. Council members asked for additional retention metrics.
At an informal Richmond City Council meeting, Dr. Pando, a representative of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, told the council the college is seeing double-digit enrollment gains and improved student retention.
The update matters because Reynolds trains local workers and awards industry credentials that feed Richmond-area employers and community economic development efforts.
Dr. Pando said the college is “outpacing every single one of our peers in our system” with double-digit increases and emphasized retention and completion, not just enrollment. She reported a 15% increase in full-time-equivalent enrollment and an 11% increase in total attendees on the credit side. The college also reported growth in short-term credential programs administered through the Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) and a large increase in English-as-a-second-language enrollment supported by “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in grants for additional faculty and services.
Program highlights included the automotive technology program, which Dr. Pando said earned the Toyota T-Ten/Lexus accreditation and places students in paid work at a Toyota dealership three days a week while they train in the college lab the other days. She said nearly all students in that program pay $0 for tuition through the state G3 program or Toyota scholarships and leave with a credential, uniform and toolkit. “Most of them are accessing G3 program dollars,” Dr. Pando said.
On nursing outcomes, Dr. Pando said Reynolds has achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX in three of the last four semesters; the one lower semester reflected a single student who delayed taking the exam several months after graduation.
A council member asked for further detail on retention metrics and the measurement of student outcomes. Dr. Pando agreed to provide the college’s retention metrics to the council for tracking and analysis.
No formal votes or motions on college funding or programs were recorded during the presentation; the remarks were delivered as an annual update to the council.
Looking ahead, Dr. Pando’s office said it will supply the requested retention metrics and additional program-level data to council members.
