Transfer Level Completion Dashboard Definitions and Methodology

Data File

CalPASS Plus provided the RP Group’s Multiple Measures Assessment Project (MMAP) research team (dated 5/10/2022) that included all California Community Colleges (N = 116) submitting to the Management Information System (MIS). The data included students enrolled between fall 2011 and summer 2021. The English (N = 2,924,877), math (N = 2,937,746), and ESL (N = 275,735) samples included all students who attended a California Community College and enrolled in one or more credit English or math courses. With each annual update to the dashboard, definitions or the identification of course levels (e.g., distinguishing between BSTEM/SLAM typology, identifying co-requisite courses, classifying math courses into Algebra/Trigonometry/Precalculus) are updated in order to improve identification of courses and pathways. These changes may result in slight differences in outcomes or counts with each annual update to the dashboard.

Student Cohorts

The dashboard shows data for students whose first enrollment was at the level displayed in the selected discipline (i.e., English, math, ESL) displayed. For example, if a student’s first course of enrollment was pre-transfer-level English, that would be the cohort in which they are included. Cell sizes below 10 are suppressed.

Successful Completion of the Transfer-Level Course

This rate involves the percentage of students who successfully completed a transfer-level course within the specified time period, including students who completed a transfer-level gateway class within one year (365 days) of their initial attempt in the sequence (e.g., Fall-[Winter]-Spring-Summer; Spring-Summer-Fall-[Winter]; etc.) Two- and three-year time windows extend this logic for two and three full sequences. Prior to fall 2022, only a student’s first two attempts at a transfer-level course were available. The latest update removed this limitation and all attempts within the specified timeframe are included resulting in slight differences in outcomes or counts to prior versions of the dashboard.

Successful Transfer-Level Completion Counts

These counts are the number of students who successfully completed a transfer-level course within the specified time period. Successful completions include A, B, C (including +/- grades where allowable), P, and CR grades, as well as incomplete grades equivalent to a passing grade (e.g., IA, IB, IC, IPP). Enrollments with grade codes of ID, IF, XX, DR, MW, RD, UD, UG, RD0, RD1, RD2, RD3, RD4, RD5, RD6, RD8, IX, INP and IP were not included in the analysis, as they do not represent valid enrollments or letter grades. Non-successful completions were defined as letter grades F, D (including +/- grades where allowable), W, EW and NP (see COMIS for definitions of letter grades). Excused withdrawals (EW), were considered to be non-successful attempts, however did count as valid enrollments in a course. Refer to the AB 705 Implementation document for a comparison of completion rates with and without EW grades for the 2020-21 cohort.

Completion Across Colleges and Districts

Students are assigned to a college based on their first course enrollment in the discipline and include completion anywhere in the system. Completion is attributed to the starting college.

English Courses

English courses were defined by the Taxonomy of Program (TOP) code 1501.00 (English). English as a Second Language courses equivalent to a transfer-level English course were not included in the data file. Additionally, courses with pre-transfer CB 21 codes (e.g., "A", "B", "C", or "D") were included as below transfer-level. Transfer-level gateway courses with English TOP codes were those courses with a CB21 code of “Y” (not prior to college level) and a CB05 transfer status code indicating that the course transfers to the University of California (UC) and/or California State University (CSU) system.

Math Courses

Math courses were defined by the TOP code 1701.00 (Mathematics) as well as specific "non-math” math courses in other TOP code areas including 0103.00 (Plant Science), 0501.00 (Business), 0505.00 (Business Administration), 0506.00 (Business Management), 0707.10 (Computer Programming), 1799.00 (Other Math), 2001.00 (Psychology), 2003.00 (Behavioral Science), 2099.00 (Other Psychology), 2201.00 (Social Sciences), 2204.00 (Economics), and 2208.00 (Sociology). Math courses within other TOP codes were identified in collaboration with the Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges. Additionally, courses with pre-transfer CB 21 codes (e.g., "A", "B", "C", or "D") were included as below transfer-level. Transfer-level gateway courses with math TOP codes were those courses with a CB21 code of “Y” (not prior to college level) and a CB05 transfer status code indicating that the course transfers to the 
University of California (UC) and/or California State University (CSU) system.

Credit ESL Courses

Completion rates include the successful completion of transfer-level English (TLE) or transfer-level English-equivalent ESL (TLEE) within the selected timeframe. A student was assigned to the ESL filter if their first enrollment in either English or ESL was an ESL course. Credit ESL includes enrollment in any credit ESL course. Students' ESL enrollments are set to capture one main ESL course enrollment per term. The main course that is reported is determined algorithmically in the following order of precedence: 1) integrated; 2) writing; 3) reading; 4) speaking/listening. 

Concurrently Enrolled High School Students

High school students taking courses within the system are counted as any other enrollment and outcome.

Disproportionate Impact

Disproportionate Impact (DI) is present in selected subgroup. Student groups who significantly perform below the average rate of all other groups are identified as DI with the Percentage Point Gap (PPG) method. PPG uses the average (excluding the group of interest i.e., PPG-1 method) as a reference taking sample sizes into account. Learn more about the calculation of the PPG-1.

Data Filters

Only student variables available in the COMIS system may be reported in the dashboard.

Enrollment in Special Programs

Enrollment in special programs (i.e., DSPS, EOPS, veterans, or foster youth) were included as enrolled in the program if enrollment occurred at any point within the timeframe of the data file. Enrollment in the program did not have to take place at the time of enrollment in a math or English course. 

First Attempt Term

Term of first enrollment in the discipline either Fall term or all starting terms combined.

Starting Course Level

• At Transfer Level = First course of enrollment in the discipline is at transfer level. (CB21 = Y)
• Below Transfer: 1 Level = First course of enrollment in the discipline at one level below transfer. (CB21 = A) Below Transfer: 1 Level = First course of enrollment in the discipline at one level below transfer. (CB21 = A)
• Below Transfer: 2 Levels or More = First course of enrollment in the discipline at two levels below transfer or below. (CB21 = B, C or D)

Timeframe to Completion

Timeframe in which the starting cohort is tracked to successful completion of the transfer level course.