HLC Accreditation: 2017 Comprehensive Review

Vision 2020

vision-2020

NWC's ambitious but attainable goals are to maintain or exceed the current institutional performance, as well as meet or exceed state and national benchmarks.

A. Experience
A.1. Student Engagement
Measure Description Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
a. Active and collaborative learning CCSSE (IR)

NWC: 54.7

Wyoming: 51.6
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2015

NWC: 56.2

Wyoming: 52.1
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2017

NWC: 56.2

Wyoming: 52.1
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2017

NWC: 51.2

Wyoming: 52.8
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2019

NWC: 51.2

Wyoming: 52.8
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2019

NWC: 48.3

Wyoming: 49.9
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2021

b. Student effort CCSSE (IR)

NWC: 50.6

Wyoming: 48.8
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2015

NWC: 54.5

Wyoming: 49.7
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2017

NWC: 54.5

Wyoming: 49.7
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2017

NWC: 46.9

Wyoming: 46.2
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2019

NWC: 46.9

Wyoming: 46.2
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2019

NWC: 43.8

Wyoming: 46.6
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2021

c. Academic challenge CCSSE (IR)

NWC: 48.3

Wyoming: 48.4
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2015

NWC: 53.3

Wyoming: 50.2
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2017

NWC: 53.3

Wyoming: 50.2
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2017

NWC: 47.9

Wyoming: 51.3
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2019

NWC: 47.9

Wyoming: 51.3
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2019

NWC: 47.4

Wyoming: 51.1
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2021

d. Student-faculty interaction CCSSE (IR)

NWC: 56.5

Wyoming: 53.5
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2015

NWC: 57.2

Wyoming: 53.7
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2017

NWC: 57.2

Wyoming: 53.7
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2017

NWC: 52.1

Wyoming: 53.6
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2019

NWC: 52.1

Wyoming: 53.6
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2019

NWC: 50.7

Wyoming: 51.2
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2021

e. Support for learners CCSSE (IR)

NWC: 54.2

Wyoming: 50.6
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2015

NWC: 51.7

Wyoming: 49.1
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2017

NWC: 51.7

Wyoming: 49.1
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2017

NWC: 47.8

Wyoming: 48.5
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2019

NWC: 47.8

Wyoming: 48.5
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2019

NWC: 46.6

Wyoming: 47.5
National Cohort: 50.0

CCSSE 2021

A.2. Educational Experience
Measure Description Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
a. Achievement of student learning outcomes Graduate Exit Survey (IR)

Strongly Agree/Agree: 81%
Neutral: 18%
Disagree/Strongly Disagree: 1%

(N=60)

2015-16 Graduates

Strongly Agree/Agree: 92%
Neutral: 7%
Disagree/Strongly Disagree: 1%

(N=94)

2016-17 Graduates

Strongly Agree/Agree: 85%
Neutral: 14%

Disagree/Strongly Disagree: 1%

(N=131)

2017-18 Graduates

Strongly Agree/Agree: 89%
Neutral: 9%

Disagree/Strongly Disagree: 3%

(N=95)

2018-19 Graduates

Strongly Agree/Agree: 88%
Neutral: 8%

Disagree/Strongly Disagree: 5%

(N=98)

2019-20 Graduates

Strongly Agree/Agree: 90%
Neutral: 9%

Disagree/Strongly Disagree: 0%

(N=63)

2020-21 Graduates

b. Student satisfaction with overall offerings and services Graduate Exit Survey (IR)

Very Satisfied/Satisfied: 92%
Dissatisfied/Very Dissatisfied: 8%

(N=60)

2015-16 Graduates

Very Satisfied/Satisfied: 91%
Dissatisfied/Very Dissatisfied: 9%

(N=95)

2016-17 Graduates

Very Satisfied/Satisfied: 91%
Dissatisfied/Very Dissatisfied: 9%

(N=139)

2017-18 Graduates

Very Satisfied/Satisfied: 72%
Neutral: 21%

Dissatisfied/Very Dissatisfied: 7%

(N=71)

Added Neutral option

2018-19 Graduates

Very Satisfied/Satisfied: 72%
Neutral: 20%

Dissatisfied/Very Dissatisfied: 8%

(N=79)

2019-20 Graduates

Very Satisfied/Satisfied: 66%
Neutral: 27%

Dissatisfied/Very Dissatisfied: 7%

(N=46)

2020-21 Graduates

c. Overall student experience Graduate Exit Survey (IR)

Excellent/Good: 83%
Average: 16%
Poor/Very Poor: 2%

(N=58)

2015-16 Graduates

Excellent/Good: 80%
Average: 14%
Poor/Very Poor: 6%

(N=93)

2016-17 Graduates

Excellent/Good: 84%
Average: 15%
Poor/Very Poor: 1%

(N=137)

2017-18 Graduates

Excellent/Good: 86%
Average: 13%
Poor/Very Poor: 1%

(N=70)

2018-19 Graduates

Excellent/Good: 82%
Average: 12%
Poor/Very Poor: 7%

(N=76)

2019-20 Graduates

Excellent/Good: 71%
Average: 20%
Poor/Very Poor: 9%

(N=45)

2020-21 Graduates

A.3. Preparation for Transfer or Workforce
Measure Description Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
a. Transfer students Transfer Summary (IR) 27% of students transferred
Of these, 77% to 4-Yr Institutions; 23% to 2-Yr

2015-16 non-returning degree/
certificate-seeking transfer students
28% of students transferred
Of these, 76% to 4-Yr Institutions; 24% to 2-Yr

2016-17 non-returning degree/
certificate-seeking transfer students
30% of students transferred
Of these, 76% to 4-Yr Institutions; 24% to 2-Yr

2017-18 non-returning degree/
certificate-seeking transfer students
33% of students transferred
Of these, 76% to 4-Yr Institutions; 24% to 2-Yr

2018-19 non-returning degree/
certificate-seeking transfer students
28% of students transferred
Of these, 76% to 4-Yr Institutions; 24% to 2-Yr

2019-20 non-returning degree/
certificate-seeking transfer students
26% of students transferred
Of these, 73% to 4-Yr Institutions; 27% to 2-Yr

2020-21 non-returning degree/
certificate-seeking transfer students
b. Career/technical education (CTE) employment rate in field of study Perkins 4P1 Survey (IR)

34%

(N=41)

2015-16 non-returning CTE students

44%

(N=41)

2016-17 non-returning CTE students

28%

(N=36)

2017-18 non-returning CTE students

40%

(N=20)

2018-19 non-returning CTE students

37%

(N=30)

2019-20 non-returning CTE students

35%

(N=31)

2020-21 non-returning CTE students

c. Transfer student performance UW New Transfer Students Report (IR)

3.05
NWC transfer first semester UW GPA

(N=49)

2.90
WY community college transfer
first-semester UW GPA

(N=619)

Fall 2015 UW cohort

2.83
NWC transfer first semester UW GPA

(N=72)

2.96
WY community college transfer
first-semester UW GPA

(N=629)

Fall 2016 UW cohort

2.90
NWC transfer first semester UW GPA

(N=71)

2.96
WY community college transfer
first-semester UW GPA

(N=665)

Fall 2017 UW cohort

2.96
NWC transfer first semester UW GPA

(N=89)

2.96
WY community college transfer
first-semester UW GPA

(N=699)

Fall 2018 UW cohort

2.76
NWC transfer first semester UW GPA

(N=81)

3.02
WY community college transfer
first-semester UW GPA

(N=686)

Fall 2019 UW cohort

2.68
NWC transfer first semester UW GPA

(N=55)

2.98
WY community college transfer
first-semester UW GPA

(N=622)

Fall 2020 UW cohort

A.4. Retention and Degree/Certificate Completion
Measure Description Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
a. Retention rate WCCC Performance Indicator Report (IR)

62%
Fall-to-fall
full-time, first-time,
degree-seeking students

(N=339)

Fall 2015 to Fall 2016

61%
Fall-to-fall
full-time, first-time,
degree-seeking students

(N=402)

Fall 2016 to Fall 2017

60%
Fall-to-fall
full-time, first-time,
degree-seeking students

(N=348)

Fall 2017 to Fall 2018

65%
Fall-to-fall
full-time, first-time,
degree-seeking students

(N=298)

Fall 2018 to Fall 2019

57%
Fall-to-fall
full-time, first-time,
degree-seeking students

(N=269)

Fall 2019 to Fall 2020

54%
Fall-to-fall
full-time, first-time,
degree-seeking students

(N=281)

Fall 2020 to Fall 2021

b. Completions IPEDS Completions (IR) 333
Degrees

36
Certificates

2015-16
308
Degrees

46
Certificates

2016-17
354
Degrees

85
Certificates

2017-18
337
Degrees

33
Certificates

2018-19
291
Degrees

55
Certificates

2019-20
277
Degrees

34
Certificates

2020-21
c. Degree/certificate completion rate IPEDS Graduation Rates (IR)

30%
Full-time, first-time, degree-
seeking students completing
within 150% of normal time
to completion

(N=420)

Fall 2012 cohort

37%
Full-time, first-time, degree-
seeking students completing
within 150% of normal time
to completion

(N=372)

Fall 2013 cohort

39%
Full-time, first-time, degree-
seeking students completing
within 150% of normal time
to completion

(N=366)

Fall 2014 cohort

39%
Full-time, first-time, degree-
seeking students completing
within 150% of normal time
to completion

(N=324)

Fall 2015 cohort

44%
Full-time, first-time, degree-
seeking students completing
within 150% of normal time
to completion

(N=410)

Fall 2016 cohort

44%
Full-time, first-time, degree-
seeking students completing
within 150% of normal time
to completion

(N=352)

Fall 2017 cohort

d. Associate degree completions per 100 FTE IPEDS Data Center; IR Calculation (IR) 26.0
ranked 1st in WY CC

2015-16 completions
23.9
ranked 3rd in WY CC

2016-17 completions
28.5
ranked 1st in WY CC

2017-18 completions
31.3
ranked 1st in WY CC

2018-19 completions
28.7
ranked 1st in WY CC

2019-20 completions
28.1
ranked 2nd in WY CC

2020-21 completions
B. Connections
B.1. Commitment to Competitive Compensation Model
Measure Description Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
a. Regionally competitive salaries IPEDS1; Wyoming Community Colleges2; College and University Professional Association for HR3; Mountain States Association of Community Colleges4; Mountain States Employers Council5; Bureau of Labor Statistics6 (HR) Faculty1: 104%
Classified Staff2,5,6: 91%
Professional Staff2,3,4,5,6: 98%
Administrators2,3,4: 100%
Percent of market

most recent data available in December 2016
Faculty1: 101%
Classified Staff2,4,5,6: 90%
Professional Staff2,3,4,5,6: 93%
Administrators2,3,4: 93%
Percent of market

most recent data available in January 2018
Faculty1: 100%
Classified Staff2,4,5,6: 98%
Professional Staff2,3,4,5,6: 99%
Administrators2,3,4: 95%
Percent of market

most recent data available in January 2019 (based on NWC salaries after 2018 increases)
Faculty1,2,3,4: 103%
Classified Staff2,4,5,6: 94%
Professional Staff2,3,4,5,6: 96%
Administrators2,3,4: 94%
Percent of market

most recent data available in November 2019
Faculty1,2,3,4: 106%
Classified Staff2,4,5,6: 90%
Professional Staff2,3,4,5,6: 93%
Administrators2,3,4: 93%
Percent of market

most recent data available in February 2021
Faculty1,2,3,4: 103%
Classified Staff2,4,5,6: 90%
Professional Staff2,3,4,5,6: 91%
Administrators2,3,4: 90%
Percent of market

most recent data available in November 2021
b. Employee satisfaction with benefits package PACE Custom #19 (IR)

72%
(Satisfied/Very Satisfied)

(N=176)

PACE 2016

72%
(Satisfied/Very Satisfied)

(N=176)

PACE 2016

72%
(Satisfied/Very Satisfied)

(N=162)

PACE 2018

72%
(Satisfied/Very Satisfied)

(N=162)

PACE 2018

74%
(Satisfied/Very Satisfied)

(N=140)

PACE 2020

74%
(Satisfied/Very Satisfied)

(N=140)

PACE 2020

B.2. Professional Growth and Continual Learning Opportunities
Measure Description Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
a. Employee satisfaction with opportunities to learn and grow PACE Custom #12 (IR)

76%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=185)

PACE 2016

76%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=185)

PACE 2016

71%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=173)

PACE 2018

71%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=173)

PACE 2018

Removed custom question from survey because a standard question was similar (see. B.2.b)

N/A

b. Employee satisfaction with professional development and training opportunities PACE #46 (IR)

67%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=186)

PACE 2016

67%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=186)

PACE 2016

66%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=174)

PACE 2018

66%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=174)

PACE 2018

46%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=148)

PACE 2020

46%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=148)

PACE 2020

B.3. Connections within Northwest College
Measure Description Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
a. Employee satisfaction with cooperation across departments PACE Custom #15 (IR)

52%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=189)

PACE 2016

52%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=189)

PACE 2016

56%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=168)

PACE 2018

56%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=168)

PACE 2018

55%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=148)

PACE 2020

55%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=148)

PACE 2020

b. Employee satisfaction with extent to which information is shared within the institution PACE #10 (IR)

42%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=197)

PACE 2016

42%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=197)

PACE 2016

50%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=177)

PACE 2018

50%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=177)

PACE 2018

48%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=155)

PACE 2020

48%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=155)

PACE 2020

c. Employee pride in institution PACE Custom #14 (IR)

81%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=189)

PACE 2016

81%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=189)

PACE 2016

79%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=177)

PACE 2018

79%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=177)

PACE 2018

69%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=151)

PACE 2020

69%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=151)

PACE 2020

B.4. Connections within Service Area
Measure Description Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
a. Service area credit headcount (unduplicated) Enrollment Report (IR) 1181
69% out of 1715 total

Fall 2016
1182
70% out of 1693 total

Fall 2017
1090
72% out of 1524 total

Fall 2018
1041
71% out of 1461 total

Fall 2019
1018
71% out of 1443 total

Fall 2020
1036
72% out of 1442 total

Fall 2021
b. Service area non-credit headcount (duplicated) Center for Training and Development Annual Summary (IR)

2860
Workforce Development

277
Powell Valley Community Ed

2015-16

2453
Workforce Development

525
Powell Valley Community Ed

2016-17

1770
Workforce Development

292
Powell Valley Community Ed

2017-18

1963
Workforce Development

325
Powell Valley Community Ed

2018-19

1036
Workforce Development

125
Powell Valley Community Ed

2019-20

1216
Workforce Development

154
Powell Valley Community Ed

2020-21

c. Number of institutional partnerships Partnership Report (IR) 344

2015-16
375

2016-17
337

2017-18
323

2018-19
337

2019-20
371

2020-21
C. Environment
C.1. Up-to-date technology
Measure Description Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
a. Bandwidth sufficiency Cacti Network Monitoring Software (CS) Maxed out bandwidth: 0 days

FY16
Maxed out bandwidth: 0 days

FY17
Maxed out bandwidth: 0 days

FY18
Maxed out bandwidth: 0 days

FY19
Maxed out bandwidth: 0 days

FY20
Maxed out bandwidth: 0 days

FY21
b. Employee satisfaction with functionality of college technology PACE Custom #4 (IR) Developing survey

77%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=120)

Fall 2017 NWC Survey

81%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=172)

PACE 2018

81%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=172)

PACE 2018

80%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=149)

PACE 2020

80%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=149)

PACE 2020

c. Student satisfaction with functionality of college technology CCSSE Custom #10 (IR) Developing survey

83%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=439)

CCSSE 2017

83%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=439)

CCSSE 2017

83%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=356)

CCSSE 2019

83%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=356)

CCSSE 2019

No longer asked on survey

C.2. Up-to-date facilities
Measure Description Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
a. Efficiency of facilities NACUBO Key Facilities Metrics (VPAS)

Energy (Gas and Electric) Million BTU (MMBTU):

Per Total Gross Square Footage (GSF)=0.070

Per Student FTE=36.87


Electrical Kilowatt Hours:

Per Total GSF=6.32

Per Student FTE=3.32K


Gas MMBTU:

Per Total GSF=0.048

Per Student FTE=25.52


FY15 (corrected)

Energy (Gas and Electric) Million BTU (MMBTU):

Per Total Gross Square Footage (GSF)=0.078

Per Student FTE=40.87


Electrical Kilowatt Hours:

Per Total GSF=6.24

Per Student FTE=3.27K


Gas MMBTU:

Per Total GSF=0.057

Per Student FTE=29.68


FY17

Energy (Gas and Electric) Million BTU (MMBTU):

Per Total Gross Square Footage (GSF)=0.078

Per Student FTE=42.80


Electrical Kilowatt Hours:

Per Total GSF=6.30

Per Student FTE=3.44K


Gas MMBTU:

Per Total GSF=0.027

Per Student FTE=14.70


FY18

no material change no material change no material change
b. Effective use of space Wyoming Space Needs Model (VPAS) NWC Total Existing ASF: 408,739
ASF=assignable square feet

NWC Eligible Existing ASF: 320,477
WY Standard ASF: 256,835

Surplus ASF over Standard: 63,642

Fall 2015
NWC Total Existing ASF: 408,739
ASF=assignable square feet

NWC Eligible Existing ASF: 320,477
WY Standard ASF: 260,343

Surplus ASF over Standard: 60,134

Fall 2016
NWC Total Existing ASF: 408,739
ASF=assignable square feet

NWC Eligible Existing ASF: 320,477
WY Standard ASF: 260,343

Surplus ASF over Standard: 60,134

Fall 2016
NWC Total Existing ASF: 408,739
ASF=assignable square feet

NWC Eligible Existing ASF: 320,477
WY Standard ASF: 260,343

Surplus ASF over Standard: 60,134

Fall 2016
NWC Total Existing ASF: 408,739
ASF=assignable square feet

NWC Eligible Existing ASF: 320,477
WY Standard ASF: 260,343

Surplus ASF over Standard: 60,134

Fall 2016
NWC Total Existing ASF: 408,739
ASF=assignable square feet

NWC Eligible Existing ASF: 320,477
WY Standard ASF: 260,343

Surplus ASF over Standard: 60,134

Fall 2016
c. Employee satisfaction with college facilities PACE Custom #17 (IR)

71%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=182)

PACE 2016

71%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=182)

PACE 2016

83%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=167)

PACE 2018

83%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=167)

PACE 2018

79%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=146)

PACE 2020

79%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=146)

PACE 2020

d. Student satisfaction with college facilities CCSSE Custom #6 (IR)

94%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=425)

CCSSE 2015

93%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=449)

CCSSE 2017

93%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=449)

CCSSE 2017

93%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=356)

CCSSE 2019

93%
Satisfied/Very Satisfied

(N=356)

CCSSE 2019

No longer asked on survey

C.3. Sound financial practices
Measure Description Source 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
a. Number of material findings on annual audit Annual Audit Report (VPAS) 0 findings

FY16
0 findings

FY17
0 findings

FY18
0 findings

FY19
0 findings

FY20
0 findings

FY21
b. Cost per FTE Student National Community College Benchmark Project, Form 20A (IR) $9,494
WY CC Percentile: 83%
National Percentile: 92%

NCCBP 2015
$10,572
WY CC Percentile: 67%
National Percentile: 93%

NCCBP 2016
$8,471
WY CC Percentile (5 colleges): 80%
National Percentile: 89%

NCCBP 2017
$8,820
WY CC Percentile (5 colleges): 80%
National Percentile: 86%

NCCBP 2018
$10,585
WY CC Percentile (5 colleges): 80%
National Percentile: 94%

NCCBP 2019
$10,839
WY CC Percentile: N/A
National Percentile: 90%

NCCBP 2020