I am excited to report that Tallahassee Community College has set a new institutional record for one of our most important student success metrics – graduation. As of our most recent student cohort, TCC’s three-year graduation rate now stands at a historic 42 percent. This represents a staggering five percent increase over the prior year and a full 15 percentage points above the average of our peers nationally. In addition, graduation rates for nearly all student subgroups have increased, and the gap between our Black and white students has narrowed by nine percent.

Each year, TCC submits hundreds of data points to the state through regular reporting to help us not only track our own key performance indicators over time, but also to compare ourselves against our peers in the Florida College System and nationally. As Florida is overall no. 1 for higher education in the nation, the state-wide average for graduation has always been very high. I’m proud to say TCC is above the average for FCS institutions as well.

Student success isn’t just about program completion, however. TCC is one of the top-ranked two-year colleges in the nation thanks in part to our transfer programs. In November of 2023, we were recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the community college with the highest transfer-out rate for Title IV students in the state of Florida. Our partnership with Florida State University was also recognized as having the highest bachelor’s completion rate for Title IV students in the state.

These kinds of outcomes don’t happen overnight; they are the result of a long-standing, continuous focus on ensuring students have the access, support, resources and instruction they need to succeed. We regularly and consistently evaluate every part of the student lifecycle to monitor trends, find gaps, and implement targeted practices and programs where and when they are needed most. We have some of the most dedicated and talented administrators, staff, and instructors in the business, and they work hard each and every day for our students.

Most importantly, these outcomes are a credit to the grit and determination of the students themselves. Thousands choose to attend TCC each year in order to pursue their academic and career goals. They come from all walks of life, all ages and abilities, but are united in one common purpose – to earn a college degree. It is our great privilege to help them realize their potential and achieve their goals.

I am so grateful to our campus community. This is what it’s all about, folks!