Student Achievement

Student Achievement Data

Dallas Baptist University is committed to student learning and success as part of its mission to “provide Christ-centered quality higher education.”  Moreover, the University’s 2019-2024 Strategic Plan Goal Two is “Strengthen Academic Programs” and includes strategies to “strengthen the learning environment and emphasize program completion by attracting, admitting, developing, and retaining an academically qualified, diverse student body” and to “develop effective academic processes, strengthen academic rigor, and improve student learning.”

To this end, DBU tracks and reports its performance regarding student retention, graduation rates, and other measures.  For graduation rates DBU has identified 6-Year National Student Clearinghouse Total Completion Rate as its Key Student Completion Indicator, and reports student completion rates at six years after matriculation.  DBU also tracks the success of its students in achieving professional certifications and assesses General Education and Academic Program Learner Centered Outcomes on a regular basis, using the learning and achievement data gathered to drive its continuous improvement efforts.

For each of the measures published here, a threshold of minimum acceptability is identified along with a justification, a goal for achievement is identified, and a brief narrative discusses DBU’s evaluation of success in the identified area.

Retention Rates

Minimum Threshold of Acceptability: DBU has established a 70% first-to-second year retention rate as its minimum threshold of acceptability. This threshold is based upon its recent historic performance in this area as well as a survey of other Texas Baptist Universities’ published retention rate standards.

The Goal for Achievement

DBU has established a goal to achieve 78% first-to-second year retention by the Fall of 2022 and to achieve 80% first-to second-year retention by the Fall of 2024.  These goals are derived from the Strategic Plan and recent trends in this area.

Fall to Fall Cohort Retention Rate
Fall 2016 to Fall 2017 FA16 69.60%
Fall 2017 to Fall 2018 FA17 77.47%
Fall 2018 to Fall 2019 FA18 71.62%
Fall 2019 to Fall 2020 FA19 75.58%
Fall 2020 to Fall 2021 FA20 69.49%
Fall 2021 to Fall 2022 FA21 62.15%
Fall 2022 to Fall 2023 FA22 63.77%

line graph of fall-to-fall retention percentage rate

Narrative: Fall-to-Fall retention measurements starting with Fall 2016-Fall 2017 through Fall 2022-Fall 2023 show that while DBU met its threshold of minimum acceptability of retention for years prior to 2019-2020, it has not met this minimum for the past three periods. The impact of COVID-19 may account for some of the drop, but other factors are under investigation. A Student Retention Committee was appointed by the President in January, 2024, and was made a standing University committee.


Overall Graduation Rates

Minimum Threshold of Acceptability: DBU has established a minimum threshold of acceptability for its overall graduation rate of 53% of each cohort graduating within six years of matriculation.  This threshold is based upon a historic average transfer-out rate of 33% as well as its recent historic performance in this area.

The Goal for Achievement

DBU has established a goal of 60% of each cohort graduating within six years of matriculation by the Fall of 2022 and a goal of 62% graduating within six years of matriculation by Fall of 2024. These goals are derived from the Strategic Plan and recent trends in this area.

6-Year (150%) graduate Rates for Full-Time, First Time Freshman Cohorts

  Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall
Full-time, First-Time Freshman 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Original Cohort 350 374 437 488 485 492 495 522 538
Graduates from Cohort 202 222 254 258 282 274 303 295 325
6-Year Graduation Rates 58% 59% 58% 53% 58% 56% 61% 57% 60%

 line graph of data retained from 6-Year Graduation Rates for cohorts

Narrative: DBU has an average six-year graduation rate of 58% from cohorts beginning in 2009 to cohorts beginning in 2017.  For each individual student, the time to graduation is impacted by a variety of factors including degree plan, number of hours attempted per semester, finances, employment, and other extenuating circumstances. Retention rates and graduation rates are connected, and as retention and persistence improve, then graduation rates should also see positive improvement. Therefore, the initiatives to improve retention and persistence are also key measures to improve graduation rates.

Graduate Employment Rates

Minimum Threshold of Accountability: DBU has established a 60% overall employment rate upon graduation as its minimum threshold of acceptability. This threshold is based upon employment rate yearly averages since 2016 (excluding the 2019-2020 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic) as well as a survey of other Texas Baptist Universities and peer institutions’ published employment placement rate standards.

The Goal for Achievement

DBU has established a goal of 70% employment rate to be achieved by the academic year 2023-2024. This goal is derived from recent performance and the Strategic Plan (Goal 2.2.1 - enhance student resources that support academic readiness, professional development, and career readiness; Goal 2.3.4 - prioritize the connection of academic experiences to career outcomes through opportunities such as internships, career placement services, and career-driven programs).

Employment rates are calculated for each academic year based upon graduation surveys administered at the University’s December, May, and August commencement ceremonies.  

N.B. Complete data could not be obtained for the 2019-2020 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore no data is published for that period.

In the 2022-2023 academic year, DBU also began tracking graduates who expected to be employed within three months and those who did not intend to seek employment but were rather continuing into post-baccalaureate education. This data is shown in the chart as **2022-2023+ at 78%.

Employment Rates at Graduation
Academic Years 2016/2017-2022/2023*

bar graph of employment rates at graduation

Narrative: DBU students are surveyed upon graduation to determine whether they are employed.  For students graduating in the 2022-2023 academic year, 66% reported employment.

The University continues to expand the Center for Career and Professional Development, including the Career Services, Service-Learning, and Mentoring departments, to assist students in achieving a successful career path.

Educator Licensure

Minimum Threshold of Acceptability: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has established a minimum threshold of acceptability for all candidates passing licensure tests by the second attempt.

The Goal for Achievement

The Dallas Baptist University Educator Preparation Program (EPP) expects 100% of candidates to pass all licensure tests by the second attempt. This goal applies to undergraduate candidates seeking initial certification and to graduate candidates seeking advanced certification. The following graphs show the percentage passing rates for DBU College of Education students in the EPP.

bar graph of TExES PPR Passing Rates

TExES Professional Pedagogy and Responsibilities test is required for all initial certification (classroom teacher) candidates.

bar graph of TExES Examination: Content Certification

Depending on their area of certification, candidates working toward both initial and/or advanced certifications take a content certification test.

bar graph of TExES initial certification

The initial certification tests pertain to teacher candidates only.

bar graph of TExES Examination: Advanced Certification

Graduate candidates seeking advanced certifications take various licensure tests including school counselor, principal, superintendent, educational diagnostician, and reading specialist examinations.

Narrative: Since 2018, 89%-100% of candidates in the DBU Educator Preparation Program have passed their TExES PPR, Content, and/or Advanced Certificate licensure tests by the second attempt. This information can be found via the following Texas Education Agency pages, for not only DBU, but also all Texas institutions of higher education: PPR Page and Content Page.

College of Christian Faith Graduation and Employment Rates

College of Christian Faith Graduation Rates

Minimum Threshold of Acceptability: In alignment with DBU standards, the College of Christian Faith has established a minimum threshold of acceptability for its overall graduation rate of 53% of each cohort graduating within six years of matriculation. This threshold is based upon a historic average transfer-out rate of 33% as well as its recent historic performance in this area.

The Goal for Achievement: In alignment with DBU standards, the College of Christian Faith has established a goal of 60% of each cohort graduating within six years of matriculation by the Fall of 2022 and a goal of 62% graduating within six years of matriculation by Fall of 2024. These goals are derived from the Strategic Plan and recent trends in this area.
 College of Christian Faith Graduation Rates

Narrative: The following graduation rates represent counts for students who have completed their degree programs and for those who have yet to graduate based on catalog year. This data is accurate as of September 6, 2022.

College of Christian Faith Employment Data

Minimum Threshold of Accountability: In alignment with DBU, the College of Christian Faith has established a 60% overall employment rate upon graduation as its minimum threshold of acceptability. This threshold is based upon employment rate yearly averages since 2016 (excluding the 2019-2020 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic) as well as a survey of other Texas Baptist Universities and peer institutions’ published employment placement rate standards.

College of Christian Faith Employment Rate

The Goal for Achievement: In alignment with DBU, the College of Christian Faith has established a goal of 70% employment rate to be achieved by the academic year 2023-2024.

Narrative: As of Spring 2022 the College of Christian Faith achieved an employment rate of 87.5%., well within the goal of 70% by 2023-2024.

Graduate School of Ministry Completion and Employment Rates

Graduate School of Ministry Program Completion Rates

Minimum Threshold of Acceptability: For its degree completion rate, the Dallas Baptist University Graduate School of Ministry degree programs have established a minimum threshold of acceptability of 60% of candidates completing their respective program within 3 years, averaging over 6 long semesters, excluding dual degrees.

The Goal for Achievement: The goal for achievement is for 70% of candidates to complete the program within 3 years, averaging over 6 long semesters, excluding dual degrees.

Graduate School of Ministry Fall 2019 - Graduation by May 2022
Original Cohort 51
Graduates from Cohort 31
3-Year Graduation Rates 6!%
 
Graduate School of Ministry Fall 2018-Graduation by May 2021
Original Cohort 53
Graduates from Cohort 29
3-Year Graduation Rates 55%

Narrative: The Graduate School of Ministry met the minimum threshold of acceptability this past 3-year cycle of 60% but did not meet the goal for achievement of 70%, with a calculation of 61% completion rate.  However, the completion rate for this 3-year cycle reflects a substantial improvement over the last cycle’s 55% rate. The GSOM will continue to track this data based on enrollment and graduation reports.

Graduate School of Ministry Program Employment Rates

Minimum Threshold of Acceptability: For its employment rate, the Dallas Baptist University Graduate School of Ministry degree programs have established a minimum threshold of acceptability of 60% of graduates employed with a related job position upon graduation.

The Goal for Achievement: The goal for achievement is for 70% of graduates to be employed with related job position upon graduation.

bar graph of 2021 GSOM Graduate Employment Rates

line graph of 2021 GSOM Graduate Employment Rates

Narrative: The Graduate School of Ministry did meet the minimum threshold of acceptability this past year of 60% and was only 2% short of meeting the goal for achievement of 70%, with an average calculation of 68.13%. They will continue to track this information from the graduation surveys to achieve more longitudinal data, as they currently only have one year worth of survey response to analyze. Additional efforts should be considered for median calculation strategies, given each graduation season varies in number of actual graduates in spring, summer, and fall commencements experiences. A more accurate comparison would be comparing same semester over multiple academic years instead of averaging each throughout the calendar year.

Cook School of Leadership

Ed.D. Program Completion Rates

Minimum Threshold of Accountability: The Dallas Baptist University Gary Cook School of Leadership Ed.D. Program is designed for graduates to complete all requirements and graduate in 36 months or 3 years. For the current accelerated three-year model, a minimum threshold of acceptability of 60% of candidates completing the program within 36 months or 3 years has been established.

The Goal for Achievement: The goal for achievement is for 75% of candidates to complete the program within 36 months or 3 years.

Ed.D. program chart

 
Ed.D. Program completion
 
Narrative: The minimum threshold of acceptability was surpassed for five out of the seven cohorts. The goal set was only achieved for 2 of the cohorts. A new accountability step has been instituted in the first year of coursework to assist students in focusing earlier on the purpose and content of their dissertation. It is worth noting that every cohort completed in less than an average of 4 years.

Ph.D. Program Completion Rates

Minimum Threshold of Accountability: For its degree completion rate, the Dallas Baptist University Gary Cook School of Leadership Ph.D. Program has established a minimum threshold of acceptability of 60% of candidates completing the program within 6 years.

The Goal for Achievement: The goal for achievement is for 75% of candidates to complete the program within 6 years.

table of average time to complete Ph.D program

bar graph of Percentage of Ph.D. Graduates completing in 6 years

Narrative: Though the Cook School of Leadership exceeded the minimum threshold of acceptability in each of the past three years, we did not achieve our goal. We have instituted new policies in the student's last semester of coursework to help them more effectively transition into the dissertation stage of the program.

Master's Degrees

Minimum Threshold of Acceptability: For its master’s degree completion rate, the Gary Cook School of Leadership has established a minimum threshold of acceptability of 60% of candidates completing master’s degrees in 3 years.

The Goal of Achievement: The goal for achievement is for 75% of candidates to complete the program within 3 years.

Cook School of Leadership graduation rates

Narrative: From Fall 2018 to Summer 2019, 40 master’s students have entered the CSL. Of those 40 students, 21 students, or 53%, have graduated within 3 years. Although this falls short of the minimum threshold of 60%, these categories spanned the difficult years of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected that in subsequent years, efforts by the CSL and the subsiding pandemic will boost numbers above the threshold. The data presented here are accurate as of September 6, 2022.

CSL Employment Rates

Minimum Threshold of Accountability: In alignment with DBU, the Cook School of Leadership has established a 60% overall employment rate upon graduation as its minimum threshold of acceptability. This threshold is based upon employment rate yearly averages since 2016 (excluding the 2019-2020 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic) as well as a survey of other Texas Baptist Universities and peer institutions’ published employment placement rate standards.

The Goal for Achievement: In alignment with DBU, the Cook School of Leadership has established a goal of 70% employment rate to be achieved by the academic year 2023-2024. This goal is derived from recent performance and the Strategic Plan (Goal 2.2.1 - enhance student resources that support academic readiness, professional development, and career readiness; Goal 2.3.4 - prioritize the connection of academic experiences to career outcomes through opportunities such as internships, career placement services, and career-driven programs).

Cook School of Leadership Employment Rates

Narrative: Graduate and doctoral respondents reported a 100% employment rate after graduation as of Spring 2022. This score is well above the minimum threshold and the goal of achievement.