Within the institution’s core value, The Individual, the University states, “Anderson University is a people-focused community where individuals are valued and where all participants seek to honor one another through words, behavior, and a commitment to each person’s success.”
To this end, the University supports and monitors the progress of its students through several means including attainment of Dean’s List, freshman to sophomore retention rate, career preparation experience, 4- and 6-year graduation rates, the number of degrees awarded, and first destination data. Some programs make use of discipline-based nationally normed examinations. Individual colleges or schools maintain the data from these assessments.
TABLE A
Dean's List Data
| Fall | Spring | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 568 | 587 | 1155 |
| 2010 | 657 | 663 | 1320 |
| 2011 | 782 | 770 | 1552 |
| 2012 | 863 | 892 | 1755 |
| 2013 | 937 | 935 | 1872 |
| 2014 | 1079 | 1047 | 2126 |
| 2015 | 1205 | 1182 | 2387 |
| 2016 | 1250 | 1241 | 2491 |
| 2017 | 1317 | 1323 | 2640 |
The data in Table A indicates the number of students who have been recognized for the Dean’s List in recent semesters. The number of students performing at or above the required GPA target of 3.5 has increased each of the last five years.
TABLE B
Freshman to Sophomore Retention Rate
| Academic Year | 2009-2010 | 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | 2015-2016 | 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall-to-Fall Freshman to Sophomore Retention | 62.8 | 74.0 | 72.0 | 76.2 | 75.7 | 76.4 | 74.1 | 76.2 | 75.0 | 78.9 |
An important initial measure of student success is the number of new full-time freshmen who are retained (continue at AU) into their sophomore year. The University has a current goal of 80% towards which it has made steady progress over the last few years. As shown in Table B, there was a notable increase in 2010-11 when Alpha Leaders (AL) were assigned to each section of the Freshman Year Experience (FYE) course. The AL is an upper-class peer who not only assists the faculty or staff member leading the FYE class but also continues in a mentoring role with these new students throughout the freshman year. For disaggregated retention data including diversity of students, visit www.andersonuniversity.edu/colleges-schools/student-diversity-and-outcomes.
TABLE C
Population of Internship Completers
| Year | Enrolled | Grade C or > | % Success |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-2011 | 222 | 218 | 98% |
| 2011-2012 | 252 | 232 | 92% |
| 2012-2013 | 299 | 293 | 97% |
| 2013-2014 | 334 | 315 | 94% |
| 2014-2015 | 314 | 301 | 96% |
| 2015-2016 | 450 | 447 | 99% |
| 2016-2017 | 450 | 448 | 99% |
| 2017-2018 | 532 | 528 | 99% |
Research in student engagement and success indicates that internships, clinical experiences, or practicum experiences are recognized as high impact practices (HIP) for students. HIP opportunities provide upper-level students with experience in a real-world setting, a strong component of success after graduation. The data in Table C shows the number of students participating in these experiences over the last four years. Longstanding required internship or clinical courses are mainstays in a variety of academic programs including art-graphic design, business— all concentrations, all undergraduate education degrees, interior design, psychology, communications, Christian ministry, and nursing has recently joined this group with the launch of its program. Several other programs offer but do not require credit for internships including history, biology, kinesiology, theatre, musical theatre, criminal justice, music, art, and Spanish.
TABLE D
Data on Graduation Rate and Degrees Awarded
| First-Time Freshman Cohort | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-year Graduation Rate | 41% | 43% | 36% | 45% | 43% | 47% | 52% | 55% | 63% | TBD |
| 6-year Graduation Rate | 47% | 48% | 41% | 51% | 48% | 53% | 57% | 57% | 65% | TBD |
| Academic Years | 2008-2009 | 2009-2010 | 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | 2015-2016 | 2016-2017 | 2017-2018 |
| Undergrad Degrees | 322 | 293 | 317 | 360 | 367 | 425 | 466 | 441 | 541 | 590 |
| Graduate Degrees | 11 | 39 | 70 | 65 | 96 | 119 | 141 | 147 | 161 | 211 |
| Total Degrees | 333 | 332 | 387 | 425 | 463 | 544 | 607 | 588 | 702 | 801 |
Using federal definitions, graduation rates are computed only for students who entered the University as new full-time freshmen. Students who transferred out and completed a degree elsewhere and those who transferred in and completed a degree at Anderson are excluded from the data on graduation rates. The University is working towards of a goal of achieving a 6-year graduate rate of 55%. The data show we have exceeded that goal.
The data in Table D shows the University has experienced notable increases in all but one of the last five years in the number of both undergraduate and graduate degrees earned each year. For disaggregated graduation rates including diversity of graduates, visit www.andersonuniversity.edu/colleges-schools/student-diversity-and-outcomes.
TABLE E
First Destination Survey Data (undergraduate)
| Graduating Class* | # Students Surveyed | Responses | Response Rate | Employed | Service/Military | Continuing Education | Percent at work/school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1372 | 396 | 29% | 125 | 1 | 74 | 51 % |
| 2020 | 665 | 247 | 37% | 131 | 4 | 40 | 68% |
| 2019 | 761 | 271 | 36% | 110 | 0 | 54 | 61% |
| 2018 | 446 | 161 | 36% | 99 | 0 | 17 | 72% |
*First-year out data for combined August, December, and May graduates per academic year Data for 2017-2018 is not considered complete at this time.
Through the combined efforts of the colleges and schools, the Career Center, and the Alumni Office, the University tracks employment and graduate school placement for students at the end of the first year following graduation. The University captures placement data at the point of graduation, and relies upon updates from alumni, which tend to trend upwards in the months following graduation. The current institutional goal is for alumni to achieve employment and graduate school placement rates at or above the level of above 60% within 24 months of graduation, and that target has already been achieved for the 2014-2015 academic year.
TABLE G
Type of Employment Placement By College
Data for the type of employment held after completing a degree is based on responses from the First Destination Survey.
| 2017-2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| College/School | Part-time Employment | Full-time Employment |
| College of Arts & Sciences | 1 | 8 |
| College of Business | 1 | 22 |
| College of Christian Studies | 0 | 3 |
| College of Education | 3 | 32 |
| College of Health Professions | 1 | 24 |
| School of Interior Design | 0 | 3 |
| School of Public Service and Administration | 1 | 3 |
| South Carolina School of the Arts | 3 | 10 |