With community colleges attracting more students and government funding, researchers and administrators are looking to improve student success rates.

Statewide only about 25 percent of full-time community college students earn a degree after three years of study. In 2007, SUNY Ulster saw just 22.6 percent of first-time, full-time students receive a degree in three years; SUNY Orange gave degrees to 15.5 percent of such students, and Sullivan County Community College to 21.5 percent.

These statistics present a concerning but skewed picture of student performance, said Thomas Bailey, director of Columbia University's Community College Research Center. The problem with the measurement is threefold: it counts only a portion of students enrolled, it doesn't count transfers to four-year colleges and it only looks at a three-year picture for students who usually take a longer time to complete their studies.

Still, a broader look at community college completion rates shows room for improvement, Bailey said. By his calculation, the success rates double when looking at the full puzzle at community colleges. But that still means that at least half of students enrolling in the schools aren't succeeding.

Community colleges educate a diverse and challenging group of students, said Ann Marrott, Ulster dean of enrollment. Most of Ulster's students work one or two jobs while attending school, she said. In addition, many community college students are low-income and first-generation college-goers, Bailey said.

Ulster and Orange both have programs aimed at keeping students on course, including some that identify students who are failing classes and connect them with counselors.

Following students over time is key to improving success rates at community colleges, Bailey said. Ulster, Sullivan and Orange community colleges are using a new software system recommended by the state three years ago that tracks admissions, grades and financial aid.

"We're already starting to see the fruits of making that investment," said SUNY Orange vice president Paul Broadie.

While there's concern among officials about improving success rates, Ulster County Legislator Susan Zimet said that the money taxpayers put toward community colleges is well spent. County contributions cover about one-third of the expenses. For 2009 Ulster budgeted $6.3 million to its community college; Orange County, $15.9 million; and Sullivan, $4 million.

"We should try to give everybody a chance to help them to succeed," Zimet said.

--© February 9, 2009, Times Herald-Record. This article was reprinted with permission.