Student Achievement
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
Freshman to Sophomore Retention Rate
Academic Year | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall-to-Fall Freshman to Sophomore Retention | 81% | 85% | 84% | 79% | 75% | 76% | 74% | 77% | 73% | 72% | 72% |
Size of Freshman Class | 774 | 695 | 638 | 640 | 675 | 665 | 660 | 642 | 501 | 533 | 513 |
TABLE B
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% |
2018-2019 | 645 | 640 | 99% |
2019-2020 | 654 | 643 | 98% |
2020-2021 | 611 | 607 | 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 C
Data on Graduation Rate
First-Time Freshman Cohort | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4-year Graduation Rate | 41% | 43% | 36% | 45% | 43% | 47% | 52% | 55% | 63% | 51% | 51% | 51% |
6-year Graduation Rate | 47% | 48% | 41% | 51% | 48% | 53% | 57% | 57% | 65% | 57% | 64% | 60% |
Using federal definitions, graduation rates are computed for students who entered the University as new full-time freshmen. Students who transferred in and completed a degree at Anderson are excluded from the data on graduation rates. The University’s current goal is achieving a minimum six-year graduate rate of 55%. For disaggregated graduation rates including diversity of graduates, visit www.andersonuniversity.edu/colleges-schools/student-diversity-and-outcomes.
TABLE D
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.