Student Achievement

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STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT:

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) requires all accredited colleges and universities in the southern region to make student achievement metrics, goals, and results available to the public. Below are WKU's outcomes and performance criteria and the most recent results, along with links to reports that show more detailed information. For comments or questions about this information, contact Dr. Rheanna Plemons, Assistant Provost for Accreditation and Assessment (Rheanna.Plemons@wku.edu)in the Office of the Provost. 

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METRICS:

As detailed in Climbing to Greater Heights: The WKU Strategic Plan 2018 - 2028, WKU focuses on student learning and achievement by creating programming aimed at increasing persistence, retention rates, and graduation rates,

Student achievement metrics focus on the following: 

• 6-year graduation rate
• First-second year retention rate
• Persistence
• Number of graduate and professional degrees
• Success in licensure exam pass rates 

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GOALS:

Three of the goals directly related to overall Student Achievement include: 

• Graduation Rate—increase the six-year graduation rate of first-time, full-time (FTFY) baccalaureate degree-seeking students, 

• Retention Rate—increase the first-to-second year retention of first-time, full-time (FTFY) baccalaureate degree-seeking students, and 

• Persistence/progression —increase the number of first-time, full-time (FTFY) freshmen, sophomores, and juniors progressing to the next classification or graduating during the academic year. 

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RESULTS:

Since 2011/12, the 4-year graduation rate for undergraduates at WKU has doubled from 25.3% to 50.7%. The six-year graduation rate is currently at 57.9%, the highest in WKU history. The 2023-24 first-time, full-time student retention rate at WKU is also the highest in WKU history at 78.3% (See Table 1. From Kentucky employment statistics, 52% of WKU baccalaureate degree earners were employed in Kentucky five years after graduation. Some 80% of undergraduates and 36% of graduate students, attend WKU on a full-time basis, but even many of these students are employed to some degree while enrolled. WKU works diligently with students to find the appropriate work-school-life balance so students can obtain their degrees and pursue their aspirations. Complete metrics are housed on the Strategic Plan web site.

Table 1. WKU Retention and Graduation Rates
Performance Metrics	AY16-17  Baseline	AY17-18	AY18-19	AY19-20	AY 20-21	AY 21-22	AY 22-23	AY 23-24	WKU Strat Plan Goal
									AY27-28
6-Year FTFY Graduation Rate	50.7%	53.4%	51.6%	55.1%	57.4%	54.0%	56.1%	57.9%	60.0%
1st-2nd Year FTFY Retention	69.9%	71.5%	72.9%	76.8%	72.8%	76.6%	78%	78.3%	80.0%
FTFY Fall to Fall Persistence/ Progression	FR: 2,051  SO: 2,207   JR: 2,802	FR:2,055  SO: 2,194  JR: 2,727	FR: 1,982  SO: 2,194  JR: 2,795	FR: 1,798  SO: 2,104  JR: 2,693	FR:1,825  SO: 1,910  JR: 2,584	FR:1,857  SO: 1,966  JR: 2,378	FR: 1,805   SO: 2,056   JR: 2,520	FR: 1,886  SO: 1,994  JR: 2,630	FR: 2,154  SO: 2,317  JR: 2,942

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Increase Graduate and Professional Degrees

Global competition and the shift to a knowledge-based economy over the past 20 years have increased the demand for graduate and professional degrees. In addition, the current economic crisis has pushed some students to pursue graduate and professional degrees because of increased salaries and lifelong earning power. WKU offers 15  Joint Undergraduate Master's Program, (JUMP) programs, 4 Doctoral Programs, and 47 Master’s and Specialist Programs. Students can complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in an accelerated time period. WKU set targets to increase graduate degree completion considerably between AY 2017-18 and AY 2027-28 (see Table 2). 

Performance Metric	AY16-17  Baseline	AY17-18	AY18-19	AY19-20	AY 20-21	AY 21-22	AY 22-23	AY 23-24	WKU Strat Plan Goal
									AY27-28
Number of graduate and professional degrees awarded during an academic year	879	930	834	868	796	791	762	767	970

 

As part of the new strategic plan, Climbing to Greater Heights, WKU set targets to incrementally increase the number of graduate degrees awarded by approximately 10 each year. These numbers seem modest, but they are in line with the flattening of graduate student enrollment in the United States. 

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Maintain Success in State Board and Licensure Exams

Licensure examination pass rates are monitored and maintained by the appropriate units in the colleges. Pass rates on licensure examinations are a critical measure of student achievement and WKU's target goal is to exceed the national average for licensure examinations if a license is required to practice a chosen field. As a minimum threshold of acceptability, programs strive to meet national benchmarks, and program strategic planning and outcome reporting for state board, specialized accreditation, and/or licensure exam pass rates from across all levels of WKU degree programs. 

Several academic programs hold state board or specialized disciplinary accreditation. Student outcome information is publicly available based upon accreditation standards set by the respective accrediting body or state board. Pass rates and other information about the accreditation process is housed online and part of public record. The following examples illustrate academic departmental and program strategic planning and outcome reporting for state board, specialized accreditation, and/or licensure exam pass rates from across all levels of WKU degree programs. Such exams are listed below: 

WKU Educator Preparation Program (PRAXIS EXAM)

Graduate Dietetic Practice Certificate

Dental Hygiene

Speech-Language Pathology

Doctor of Physical Therapy (CAPTE)

The School of Nursing (NCLEX)