Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) assesses and evaluates success in respect to student achievement as articulated within our Mission and Core Values as well as our Strategic Compass. SWU is committed to demonstrating our success in regards to student achievement by: 1) identifying appropriate measures and criteria to determine success, 2) utilizing the student achievement data to further our mission, and 3) documenting our student achievement data and subsequent results of its findings to determine related success.
SWU utilizes a broad range of measures and metrics to demonstrate and document its progress in meetings its goals and objectives for student achievement. These measures are congruent across the differing instructional modalities which students experience at Southern Wesleyan University. The measures and metrics currently utilized include:
- Graduation and Retention Rates
- Job/Graduate School Placement Rates
- State Licensure Examinations Performance and Pass Rates
Based upon the results yielded by data, Southern Wesleyan University has implemented and continues to implement a number of interventions and strategies to improve student achievement.
Graduation Rates
Examining the length of time for students to attain a degree at Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) is essential in defining and ensuring student achievement. SWU monitors graduation rates and reports them in the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Graduation Rate Survey. This survey evaluates the graduation rate of a given cohort of students over a six-year period. The University has an annual goal of a 45 percent graduation rate (combined traditional and adult studies students). The University also monitors and assesses the graduation rate based upon the two types of students (traditional and adult studies) enrolled and develops strategies to foster continuous improvement within the areas. The University has met this goal. The graduation rates are as follows:
- IPEDS 2013-14 Completions (pdf)
- IPEDS 2013-14 200% Completions (pdf)
- IPEDS 2013-14 Graduation Rates FTFT 2007 Cohort (pdf)
- FTFT Grad Rates (pdf)
- Grad Rates - Adult Undergraduate (pdf)
- Grad Rates - Adult Graduate (pdf)
Retention Rates
The University also monitors fall-to-fall retention rates for first time students and reports them in IPEDS. SWU has set a goal for a combined retention rate of at least 70 percent. The University also monitors and assesses the retention rate based upon the student type (traditional and adult studies). The retention rates are as follows:
- FTFT Retention (pdf)
- FTFT Retention by Admit Status (pdf)
- Retention of All Students (pdf)
- Adult and Graduate Retention (pdf)
Job/Graduate School Placement Rate
Job placement rates are monitored through the use of survey information provided by recent graduates and Alumni as well as via data obtained through the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW). The University has an annual goal of an 85 percent placement rate. The tables below indicate the SWU’s level of performance in regards to the targeted goal:
- DEW Data Spreadsheet (pdf)
- Grad Survey Results - May 2014 (pdf)
State Licensing Examinations
Graduates from the School of Education's initial certification programs must take and pass a licensure examination prior to employment. These examinations serve as tools for assessing students’ comprehensive knowledge and skills application within the discipline. The examinations also provide national benchmark references for student performance. SWU’s teacher education program utilizes the PRAXIS Licensure Exams as the program’s comprehensive assessment and graduation requirement. Student performance and expected outcomes/benchmarks for these examinations are found below: