Various factors contribute to student failure rates
Steven C. Vogel
Issue date: 11/16/05 Section: News
Statistics show it is accurate to say that Bakersfield College is filled with intellect, but it would also be accurate to state that a great number of students at BC have difficulty in one or more courses.
The math and English/English Second Language departments, both of which are required to graduate from BC and transfer to a four-year university, rank as the most difficult and failed courses among all students. Overall, math has a success rate of 51.5 percent (retention rate of 79.9 percent), while English/ESL achieves a score of 58.1 percent (87.4 percent retention).
The retention rate is defined by the percentage of students who return the following semester. For example, if a student attends this fall and returns in the spring semester, they have been "retained" by BC.
Among the most successful courses offered at BC, Public Safety ranks at the top with an overall success rate of 96.3 percent (98.6 percent retention), while Allied Health comes in at a close second with an overall success rate of 91.1 percent (95.7 percent retention).
When put into an accurate perspective, statistics show that only slightly more than half of all BC students will pass math or English, which would suggest that only 50 percent of all current BC students will graduate.
Administrators and instructors insist that adequate assistance is available to students who choose to take advantage of what has been offered.
"If a student takes advantage of everything made available to them and spends at least two hours per day per subject in study time, there is no excuse for failure... if they still are unable to pass their courses, they may not have the intellect to do so," said BC President William Andrews.
In addition, BC counselor Kathy Rosellini adds that "if a student knows they need more help with their studies, they should take the classes (academic development courses) offered at BC that are designed to assist the at-need student."
The math and English/English Second Language departments, both of which are required to graduate from BC and transfer to a four-year university, rank as the most difficult and failed courses among all students. Overall, math has a success rate of 51.5 percent (retention rate of 79.9 percent), while English/ESL achieves a score of 58.1 percent (87.4 percent retention).
The retention rate is defined by the percentage of students who return the following semester. For example, if a student attends this fall and returns in the spring semester, they have been "retained" by BC.
Among the most successful courses offered at BC, Public Safety ranks at the top with an overall success rate of 96.3 percent (98.6 percent retention), while Allied Health comes in at a close second with an overall success rate of 91.1 percent (95.7 percent retention).
When put into an accurate perspective, statistics show that only slightly more than half of all BC students will pass math or English, which would suggest that only 50 percent of all current BC students will graduate.
Administrators and instructors insist that adequate assistance is available to students who choose to take advantage of what has been offered.
"If a student takes advantage of everything made available to them and spends at least two hours per day per subject in study time, there is no excuse for failure... if they still are unable to pass their courses, they may not have the intellect to do so," said BC President William Andrews.
In addition, BC counselor Kathy Rosellini adds that "if a student knows they need more help with their studies, they should take the classes (academic development courses) offered at BC that are designed to assist the at-need student."