Institution Set Standards
ACCJC Accreditation Standard I.B.3 states that:
"the institution establishes institution-set standards for student achievement, appropriate to its mission, assesses how well it is achieving them in pursuit of continuous improvement, and publishes this information"
In 2016, American River College adopted a consistent College-wide methodology for computing Institution-Set Standards. Institution-Set Standards are computed by first taking the average of the preceding 3 years (not including the current year). Then a 95% Confidence Interval is constructed around this preceding 3-year average. The lower limit of this 95% Confidence Interval is formally recognized as the Institution-Set Standard (the minimum standard below which actions should be taken). In 2017, American River College formally recognized the upper limit of the 95% Confidence Interval as the Stretch Goal (an aspirational goal).
As the Institution-Set Standard and Stretch Goal depend on the preceding 3 years for their computation (i.e., a rolling 3-year period), the standard and stretch goal vary from year to year. Each spring, the Institution-Set Standard and Stretch Goal are computed and then compared to the most recent year to assess institutional effectiveness in student achievement (e.g., Successful course completion rates, number of certificates, number of degrees, number of transfers, job placement rates, & licensure rates*).
Over the last 3 years, ARC has consistently met or exceeded the Institution-Set Standard for successful course completion rates, number of certificates, degrees, and transfers.
The course completion rate at ARC increased from 76% in 2022-2023 to 79% in 2023-2024, a 3 percentage point increase. The 2023-2024 rate also met and surpassed the Institution-Set Standard (floor or minimum standard) by 10 percentage points.
The number of certificates earned by ARC students increased substantially from 1,178 in 2022-2023 to 1,869 in 2023-2024, a 59% increase. The 2023-2024 total not only met and surpassed the Institution-Set Standard (floor or minimum standard), but also exceeded the Stretch Goal (or aspirational goal).
The number of degrees earned by ARC students increased from 2,438 in 2022-2023 to 2,517 in 2023-2024, a 3% increase. The 2023-2024 total met and surpassed the Institution-Set Standard (floor or minimum standard).
The number of transfers to UC and CSU by ARC students decreased slightly from 1,070 in 2022-2023 to 1,036** in 2023-2024, a 3% decrease. The 2023-2024 total met and surpassed the Institution-Set Standard (floor or minimum standard).
**The actual transfer counts from ARC to UC are incomplete for 23-24 due to timing limitations, and are likely to be revised upward in subsequent reporting (e.g., for 2022-2023, the transfer to UC count was revised upward by 9 students in subsequent reporting)
The ARC Institution-Set Standards Annual Report provides comprehensive results for the 2023-2024 academic year (adopted by the Institutional Effectiveness Council, May 2nd, 2025).
The Institution-Set Standards Reporting Form Summary provides an overview of actions that programs have or will be taking to improve outcomes as well as a listing of external factors that may have affected these outcomes. The institutional implications of these actions were also taken into account by college governance councils and teams.
*Programs where students are required to pass national, state, or other licensure exams to qualify for employment in their chosen field annually report their licensure exam pass rates and compare them to Institution-Set Standards and Stretch Goals. Department chairs for each program are responsible for providing licensure exam data. These Institution-Set Standards and Stretch Goals are set by the individual programs.