The U.S. Secretary of Education recognizes accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges ("SACSCOC") in establishing the eligibility of its accredited institutions to participate in programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, as amended, and other federal programs. Federal statutes include mandates that the SACSCOC review an institution in accordance with criteria outlined in the federal regulations developed by the U.S. Department of Education. As part of the review process, institutions are required to document compliance with those criteria responding to federal mandates and the SACSCOC is obligated to consider such compliance when the institution is reviewed for initial membership or continued accreditation. One such criteria states, "The institution identifies, evaluates, and publishes goals and outcomes for student achievement appropriate to the institution's mission, the nature of the students it serves, and the kinds of programs offered. The institution uses multiple measures to document student success."

Wade College uses Persistence and Retention Rates, Qualifying Professional Portfolio Critique, Graduation Rates, and Graduate Employment Statistics to evaluate student achievement. Tracking and assessment of each of these measures of student success aligns with the institution's mission to help students to "provide its diverse student population with the skills and knowledge to be a productive part of American society" and to "develop the competencies necessary for immediate employment and career advancement in their chosen fields." For each measure published, Wade College has identified a threshold of minimum acceptability and a goal of achievement. Continuous evaluation of these methods allows the college to ensure that administrators, faculty, academic and student affairs, and career services are effectively supporting this mission.

Persistence and Retention Rates

Wade College believes that among the most important measures of institutional effectiveness and student satisfaction is our persistence and retention rate. The institution is committed to providing dynamic and challenging educational programs complete with support services and career opportunities available to all its students. The institution has established the following persistence and retention rates for each trimester of instruction.

Minimum Threshold of Acceptability	75%
Goal Level of Achievement	85%

For the 2024-2025 academic year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), actual persistence and retention rates were as follows: 88% for the fall 2024 trimester; 90% for the spring 2025 trimester; and 90% for the summer 2025 trimester. Such data reflects the retention rates for all matriculating students regardless of if they are either first-time, full-time undergraduate students or not; additionally, the institution tracks the data by trimester, not by a yearly cohort.

Qualifying Professional Portfolio Critique Scores

Wade College believes that practicing presentation and interview skills is a vital component of a student's success in preparation for professional experiences in his or her chosen industry. The Professional Portfolio Critiques (PPC) consists of each student presenting his or her portfolio to a professional industry panel, who evaluates each student's portfolio and presentation based on overall organization, craftsmanship, creativity, industry-standard software skills, knowledge of their degree program, reasoning, communication skills, professional readiness, and greatest strengths and weaknesses. To be eligible to present at the PPC, students must make a qualifying score of 80% or higher during the Pre-PPC faculty and administration review of their portfolios. The institution has established the following Pre-PPC rates - across all degree programs at each degree level - to meet the qualifying score of 80% or higher.

	Associate-Level Students	Baccalaureate-Level Students
Minimum Threshold of Acceptability	40%	60%
Goal Level of Achievement	50%	70%

For the 2024-2025 academic year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), actual percentages of associate-level graduates who met the qualifying criteria to be considered for PPC advancement were as follows: 64% for the September 2024 graduates; 50% for the January 2025 graduates; and 50% for the May 2025 graduates.

For the 2024-2025 academic year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), actual percentages of baccalaureate-level graduates who met the qualifying criteria to be considered for PPC advancement were as follows: 67% for the September 2024 graduates; 100% for the January 2025 graduates; and 100% for the May 2025 graduates.

Wade College believes that a strong graduation rate is an excellent indicator of overall institutional effectiveness. The institution holds itself accountable for providing the resources and support services for students to be able to successfully complete the program. Wade College offers associate and baccalaureate degrees. The baccalaureate-level programs began in the fall 2016 trimester.

Student-Right-to-Know Graduation Rates Data (IPEDS Data)

Under the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act institutions of higher education are required to disclose information to prospective and current students about institutional graduation rates. Graduation rates are the Student Right to Know (SRK) rates and are defined as the total number of individuals from a given cohort of first-time, full-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who complete a degree within 150 percent of normal time for completion of their degree/certificate, divided by the entire cohort of first-time, full-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates minus any allowable exclusion. The institution has established the following graduation rates - for the baccalaureate and associate degree programs - for each applicable cohort.

	Associate Degree Cohort	Baccalaureate Degree Cohort
Minimum Threshold of Acceptability	30%	40%
Goal Level of Achievement	50%	60%

The Wade College graduation rates - for identified subpopulations, at each degree level - for the 2019 cohort year of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates who completed their respective program within 150 percent of normal time for completion are listed in the tables below.

Associate Degree Cohort and Graduation Rates

Overall Graduation Rate - 34%

Disaggregation	Minimum Threshold of Acceptability	Goal Level of Achievement	Cohort	Graduation Rates
Gender
Male	25%	50%	7	29%
Female	25%	50%	22	36%
Race/Ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native	25%	50%	0	NA
Asian	25%	50%	1	100%
Black or African American	25%	50%	8	13%
Hispanic/Latino	25%	50%	0	NA
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander	25%	50%	1	0%
White	25%	50%	12	50%
Two or More Race	25%	50%	4	0%
U.S. Nonresident	25%	50%	0	NA
Race and Ethnicity Unknown	25%	50%	3	67%
Pell/Non-Pell
Pell recipient	NA	NA	17	35%
Not Pell recipient	NA	NA	12	25%

Baccalaureate Degree Cohort and Graduation Rates

Overall Graduation Rate - 100%

Disaggregation	Minimum Threshold of Acceptability	Goal Level of Achievement	Cohort	Graduation Rates
Gender
Male	40%	60%	0	NA
Female	40%	60%	2	100%
Race/Ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native	40%	60%	0	NA
Asian	40%	60%	0	NA
Black or African American	40%	60%	1	100%
Hispanic/Latino	40%	60%	0	NA
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander	40%	60%	0	NA
White	40%	60%	1	100%
Two or More Race	40%	60%	0	NA
U.S. Nonresident	40%	60%	0	NA
Race and Ethnicity Unknown	40%	60%	0	NA
Pell/Non-Pell
Pell recipient	40%	60%	1	100%
Not Pell recipient	40%	60%	1	100%

Prior to July 1, 2022, the published length for completion of the associate degree programs was four consecutive trimesters of study. The published length for completion of the baccalaureate degree programs was eight consecutive trimesters of study. Each trimester is 15 weeks of instruction in length and is equivalent to a traditional semester.

As of July 1, 2022, the published length for completion of the associate degree programs is five consecutive trimesters of study. The published length for completion of the baccalaureate degree programs is ten consecutive trimesters of study. Each trimester is 15 weeks of instruction in length and is equivalent to a traditional semester.

Through the integration of diverse disciplines in art, design, business, computer-aided design, technology, and the liberal arts, the associate and baccalaureate degree programs in fashion design and product development, interior design, information technology, and marketing and management reach beyond specialized professional skills to a broader spectrum of knowledge. The curriculum promotes a well-rounded perspective of the world in general and the fields of business, design, and technology in particular; additionally, coursework in the areas of fashion design, product development, interior design, information technology, marketing, or management helps students develop the broad professional skills required to advance in the business, design, and technology industries.

The mission of the Office of Career Services is to support and empower students and alumni on their career paths by teaching lifelong employability and career management skills, and providing resources, guidance, and learning opportunities to help them successfully gain employment and manage their careers. The Office of Career Services offers students and alumni one-on-one career advising, resources for employability development, access to a dynamic online job board and resume builder (College Central Network), on-campus workshops, recruiting events such as job fairs, opportunities to connect with industry professionals and prospective employers, and many other resources and services for the purposes of:

• Helping students and alumni navigate the career search process for gainful employment;
• Promoting understanding about the necessary competencies and skills required to qualify for immediate employment and career advancement; and
• Encouraging students and alumni to be engaged in continual self-improvement and professional development to maintain long-standing careers in the business, design, and/or information technology fields.

Post-Graduation

The Office of Career Services collects data on graduates to identify career outcome statistics through survey information collection at the time of a student's graduation, periodic follow-ups via email or telephone, graduate visitations, and telephone calls and emails to the college. These statistics provide a long-term measure of institutional effectiveness. Feedback from graduate career outcomes is used as institutional research on the adequacy of curriculum competencies, student learning outcomes, and program reviews. The institution has established the following rates of graduate employment placement and/or continued education within 6 to 9 months of graduation.

Minimum Threshold of Acceptability	72%
Goal Level of Achievement	87%

Highlights:

The career outcomes rate is 82% for both associate and baccalaureate degree graduates of the 2024-2025 academic year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) who were either employed or continued their education. Among the overall graduates who were employed, 79% were in a job related to their field. The knowledge rate is 98%. Among the associate degree graduates of the 2024-2025 academic year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), 84% were either employed or continued their education. Of those associate degree graduates who were employed, 74% were in a job related to their field. Among the baccalaureate degree graduates of the 2024-2025 academic year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), 79% were either employed or continued their education. Of those baccalaureate degree graduates who were employed, 91% were in a job related to their field.

For more information on career outcomes: GRADUATE OUTCOMES METHODOLOGY