May 31, 2022

Fellows:
Marc DeWitt, Sinclair Community College
Ryan Hamilton, Northwest State Community College
Kim Manno, Central Ohio Technical College
Jessica McCarthy, Terra State Community College

Project Advisor:
Ryan McCall, Marion Technical College

Executive Summary:
Academic program maps are tools that provide students with clear measures and targets to complete their degrees on time. These visual, term-by-term guides help students understand how prerequisite courses build on each other, when gateway courses should be taken, and how all requirements fit together. When students follow program maps, they avoid taking unnecessary classes, save time and money, and stay on course for employment after graduation.

While programs at most community colleges across the state are clearly mapped out for full-time students, approximately two-thirds of all community colleges students attend on a part-time basis.i There is also compelling data that demonstrates the American system of higher education has repeatedly failed part-time students. With student bodies made up of Pell-eligible students, single parents and working adults, it is critical that Ohio’s community colleges map out programs for students based on a variety of attendance tracks. Because course sequence and financial aid eligibility may be affected by the number of credit hours taken per semester, students should have access to multiple program maps based on a spectrum of attendance, so they can factor elements such as time to completion and financial aid eligibility into their decision about enrolling as a part-time, three-quarters-time, or full-time student.