How well does Barton Community College stack up against other Kansas community colleges? That is one of the metrics addressed by the annual Board Monitoring Report on END 3, Academic Advances.
ENDS are a set of mission-related policy statements that embody the board’s long-range vision. END 3 states: Students desiring academic advancement will be prepared for successful transfer to other colleges and universities.
This is broken down further and was reviewed by Angie Maddy, vice-president of Student Services, and the BCC Board of Trustees meeting this week.
To measure how well this is achieved, Maddy showed Kansas Board of Regents graduation rates for students transferring from Barton to a Regents University. Forty-five percent (45.0%) of Barton transfers from 2022 had graduated, compared to 34.7% for all Kansas community colleges.
“Not all students who transfer graduate,” Maddy said. However, “we do well compared to other community colleges.”
Information from KBOR also shows that Barton students do as well as other transfer students from community college, academically.
In the Fall of 2024, Barton had:
• 8 students attending Emporia State with an average Grade-Point Average of 3.54. All 19 Kansas community colleges had 193 ESU students with an average GPA of 3.30.
• 52 transfers to Fort Hays State University with an average GPA of 3.12; all colleges, 554 students with average GPA of 3.00.
• 88 transfers to Kansas State, with an average GPA of 3.03; all colleges, 598 students with average GPA of 2.99
• 4 transfers to Pittsburg State, GPA not available; all colleges, 271 students, GPA 3.35
• 21 transfers to the University of Kansas, GPA 3.22; all colleges, 665, GPA 3.29
• 11 transfers to Washburn, GPA 3.31; all colleges 252, GPA 3.02
• 48 transfers to Wichita State, GPA 3.26; all colleges 892, GPA 3.04
Resources support academic advancement
Maddy said students have several resources available to support their academic advancement. Student Services and the TRIO/Student Support Services program host transfer fairs each fall and spring. Approximately 20 four-year institutions participate.
TRIO/SSS provides approximately six group transfer visits each semester for students, as well as individual transfer visits for program participants when needed and requested.
Student Services schedules university admissions representatives throughout the fall and spring terms. These visits are hosted by the Library.
Student feedback
In a student exit survey, 82% responded “agree” to the statement “I believe my Barton experience is preparing me for successful transfer to a university.” When adding those who responded “neutral” to those who responded “agree,” it was 100%.
Asked to rate the academic advising service, 89% rated it “rewarding” or “good,” and 95% rated the service as “rewarding,” “good” or “adequate.”
Barton President Dr. Marsuc Garstecki said the report showed the college is meeting the goals of END 3. “That tells the story right there. That full array of wrap-around services, as well as what’s happening in the classroom ... is something we ought to be proud of.”
