Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) has launched its new five-year strategic plan, a bold, visionary blueprint designed to improve student outcomes by 2030 and retain them beyond.
For the first time in its history, the college’s graduation rate has exceeded 35% the past two academic years. Now, the college is looking ahead to refine this success even further. In the next five years, it aims to increase its graduation rate from 35.9% to more than 40% by 2030.
The plan's five strategic pillars to meet this objective include empowering student success, strengthening affordability and access, improving student and employee experience, fostering a positive culture, and growing RCBC’s reach within its community.
“This plan was carefully crafted with more than a year’s worth of work and input from hundreds of faculty members, staff, and students,” said RCBC President Dr. Michael A. Cioce. “Rowan College at Burlington County has made tremendous progress over the past decade. This plan will ensure student success, and career opportunities for students will continue to propel this institution forward.
“The plan will remain a fluid document as departments will add unit goals that will be assessed annually to measure the college’s overall progress,” Cioce added.
Following each of the five goals are several commitments that set a roadmap to the finish line of an increased graduation rate in 2030. Some of these commitments include:
- Creating a seamless start-to-graduation pathway.
- Assessing and strengthening advising, financial aid, and other student services.
- Expanding leadership development and training opportunities for students and employees across campus.
- Developing partnerships that enrich student learning and expand career opportunities.
In addition to these goals, the college is also part of a new student success metric initiative led by the Richmond Fed, a nonpartisan, independent research organization focused on workforce outcomes. The initiative is redefining graduation rates to more closely align with community colleges’ mission and students.
Instead of just full-time, the Richmond Fed considers full and part-time students, and instead of just a degree, diploma, or long-term certificate, identifies workforce-recognized credentials and transfers to a four-year institution without a credential as success.
“A new Strategic Plan and a better measure of community college performance provide a great opportunity to renew our focus on student success and ensure that our outcomes align with the college’s mission and institutional priorities,” Cioce said. “I look forward to establishing new records for graduation rates well in advance of 2030.”
RCBC employees are already striving to achieve the Strategic Plan. At the college’s annual collegewide gathering on Sept. 19, staff and faculty examined the plan together, offering their insight on how their departments can contribute toward the plan’s goals while elaborating on how they have already worked toward attaining it.
To read more about RCBC’s strategic plan, visit rcbc.edu/strategic-plan.
