The WCC Data Dictionary is a resource that contains definitions for terms and metrics that are commonly requested and used in data reporting. This is designed to increase data transparency and to help WCC data users understand institutional data more easily. If you have any questions about any of the terms listed here, please contact the Analytics & Institutional Research team.
Enrollment, Term
Total unique headcount of credit students enrolled in a given term as of the census date for that term (October 15 for Fall term, March 1 for Winter term, July 1 for Summer term).
Enrollment, Annual
Total unique headcount of credit students enrolled in an academic year as measured at the end of a Summer term that includes Fall, Winter, and Summer terms.
Persistence Rate (General)
The rate at which students are retained in enrollment at WCC from one term to a subsequent term (typically Fall to Winter), measured at the end of each term and expressed as a percentage. This is a percentage of a cohort of students from the initial term who either re-enrolled in the subsequent term or earned an award between the two terms.
Persistence Rate (Program-specific)
The rate at which students are retained in enrollment within a particular program at WCC from one term to a subsequent term (typically Fall to Winter), measured at the end of each term and expressed as a percentage. This is a percentage of a cohort of students declared in a particular program from the initial term who either re-enrolled in the subsequent term in the same program or earned an award from the same program between the two terms.
Retention Rate (General)
The rate at which students are retained in enrollment at WCC from Fall term to Fall term, measured at the end of each term and expressed as a percentage. This is a percentage of a cohort of students from the initial Fall term who either re-enrolled in the subsequent Fall term or earned an award between the two Fall terms.
Retention Rate (Program-specific)
The rate at which students are retained in enrollment within a particular program at WCC from Fall term to Fall term, measured at the end of each term and expressed as a percentage. This is a percentage of a cohort of students declared in a particular program from the initial Fall term who either re-enrolled in the subsequent Fall term in the same program or earned an award from that program between the two Fall terms.