Data Wranglers

Insights. Impact. Student Success.

• 🏛️ ORPE ON CAMPUS

  

  Bounce Back Night: Finish Strong

  Students in select high-DFW courses can connect with instructors, success coaches, and tutors before small academic challenges become difficult to recover from.

  Wednesday, October 14 | 3–5 p.m.
  TJNIC, outside Rooms 106–107
  Quiet workspaces available in Rooms 104–105.

  • Meet with instructors
  • Catch up on assignments
  • Connect with tutoring and coaching
  • Make a plan for the rest of the semester

  Small course corrections can make a big difference.

• 📣 CAMPUS POLL

  

  What helps students succeed in college math?

  Recent analysis found that approximately 60% of students entering MTH 121 with a high school GPA of 3.30–3.39 earned a C or better. The success rate increased to approximately 82% for students with GPAs of 3.50 to 3.59.

  Which factor should carry the most weight when determining math placement?

  • High school GPA
  • Placement-test results
  • Previous math performance
  • Multiple measures used together

  Take the Data Wranglers Poll

  Your feedback can help inform campus conversations about placement and student support

• 🤖 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

  

  Who benefits from community college bachelor’s degrees?

  A 2026 University of Washington policy brief examined the continued growth of community college bachelor’s degree programs.

  What researchers found

  ✅ 24 states authorized community colleges to award bachelor’s degrees as of December 31, 2025
  ✅ 214 community colleges offered at least one bachelor’s program
  ✅ Approximately 70% of graduates were age 25 or older
  ✅ Average annual tuition and fees were about $5,417, compared with $10,022 at public four-year universities
  ✅ Programs were commonly tied to documented workforce needs

  For NMC, the findings support evaluating bachelor’s programs through access, affordability, workforce demand, completion, employment, earnings, and long-term viability.

  Source: Meza, E. A. (2026). The basics: Key community college bachelor’s degree facts, figures, and the national landscape.

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  👥 QUESTION FOR CAMPUS

  How can NMC’s bachelor’s programs expand access while continuing to meet regional workforce needs?