Response to HCR 69
I. Institutional/Student Profile
Purpose/Mission
SOWELA Technical Community College provides state-of-the-art traditional and distance learning experiences
and awards certificates, technical diplomas, and associate degrees that empower students in transfer, career
and technical education to excel as globally competitive citizens.
http://www.sowela.edu/about_us.asp
An applicant must be 17 years of age prior to entry into the college.
A state approved high school diploma, or high school equivalency diploma (GED), is required for admission into
the associate degree programs and the Practical Nursing program.
Students who are home-schooled or who graduated from a high school that is not approved by the state of
Louisiana can be admitted with a GED or with ACT scores of at least 14 in English and 15 in math on a single
ACT administration. The ACT scores are required in addition to the required SOWELA placement test scores
unless the ACT scores meet the minimum ACT for College level English and math requirements as determined
by the Louisiana Board of Regents.
Admissions Standards
Students planning to enroll should request that their ACT scores be sent to the Admissions Office at SOWELA.
SOWELA’s ACT Code is 5064.
Transfer students who have earned college credit at any post-secondary institution, must submit all transcripts
from each college/university attended. If the transcript indicates the student has completed a college-level
mathematics or English course with a “C” or better, ACT or COMPASS scores will not be necessary.
ASSET, ACT, and COMPASS scores (no older than 3 years) may also be used for placement. Students whose test
scores indicate a need for additional preparation in basic skills will be required to enroll in appropriate
transitional courses to help prepare them for success in higher level courses.
Students will not be refused admission into the college because of low test scores. Test scores are used for
advising and placement purposes only. If an applicant has not demonstrated the ability to benefit from
enrollment in college-level courses, then enrollment will be restricted to transitional courses.
http://www.sowela.edu/students2.asp
Number of Students Admitted
3,054 (Census Date)
Percent of Students Admitted
100%
Number of Resident
2,932
Number of Non-Residents
61
Number of Unknown Residents
61
See Tuition and Fees in 2012/2013 Catalog & Student Handbook:
http://www.sowela.edu/students2.asp
Further Cost of Attendance data can be found:
Cost of Attendance
(tuition/fees)
National Center for Education Statistics
College Navigator for SOWELA Technical Community College
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=sowela+technical+community+college&s=LA&zc=70601&zd=10&of=3
&l=92&ct=1&ic=2&id=160579#expenses
National Center for Education Statistics
College Navigator for SOWELA Technical Community College
Average Student Loan
$ 5,842
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=sowela+technical+community+college&s=LA&zc=70601&zd=10&of=3
&l=92&ct=1&ic=2&id=160579#finaid
76%
Detailed Financial Aid data can be found:
Percent on Financial Aid
National Center for Education Statistics
College Navigator for SOWELA Technical Community College
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=sowela+technical+community+college&s=LA&zc=70601&zd=10&of=3
&l=92&ct=1&ic=2&id=160579#finaid
$3,669
Detailed Financial Aid data can be found:
Average Financial Aid Award
National Center for Education Statistics
College Navigator for SOWELA Technical Community College
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=sowela+technical+community+college&s=LA&zc=70601&zd=10&of=3
&l=92&ct=1&ic=2&id=160579#finaid
National Center for Education Statistics
Campus Crime Statistics
College Navigator for SOWELA Technical Community College
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=sowela+technical+community+college&s=LA&zc=70601&zd=10&of=3
&l=92&ct=1&ic=2&id=160579#crime
II. Student/Faculty Engagement
Percent of developmental
classes taught by full-time
faculty
76%
Average teaching load by
discipline
Not Available
Average credit hours taught
per FTE faculty
Not Available
2012-2013 SOWELA Catalog (General Education Core Requirements – Page 58)
Catalog is available: http://www.sowela.edu/index.asp
GENERAL EDUCATION CORE REQUIREMENTS
Number of type of general
education courses required
degree programs
In accordance with the policies established by the Louisiana Board of Regents, the LCTCS Board of
Supervisors, and the Commission on Colleges of SACS, SOWELA requires that graduates of degree programs
must demonstrate competency in general education. To fulfill the General Education Core Requirement,
students must complete the minimum hours of coursework as indicated by their respective degree plans.
Minimum Semester Hours of General Education Required for AAS and AGS Degrees.
English Composition
Math
Natural Sciences
Humanities
Fine Arts
Social/Behavioral Sciences
AAS
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
0 credit hours
3 credit hours
AGS
6 credit hours
3 credit hours
6 credit hours
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
6 credit hours
AWARDING OF TRANSFER CREDIT
Transfer criteria
An applicant should submit a currently issued official transcript from all institutions of higher education that
he/she has attended within thirty days of the beginning of the first semester/session of enrollment.
Transcripts become the property of SOWELA and part of the permanent student record. Decisions regarding
the award of transfer credit will be determined no later than the end of the first semester a student is
enrolled. Transfer credit is generally accepted from institutions that are accredited through recognized
agencies. Transfer credit from other institutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Conversion from
quarter hours to semester hours and conversion to a four-point grading scale will be made as needed. Course
content, prerequisites and level of instruction will be reviewed. The student may be required to provide course
syllabi to determine transfer credit eligibility. Transfer of credit will be considered only for comparable courses
within the current curriculum at SOWELA. Only grades of “C” or better will be considered for transfer credit.
Once the credit becomes a part of the student’s official record at SOWELA, it will not be removed. Application
of transfer credit toward the completion of program requirements will be determined by the Registrar’s Office.
Grades awarded for any and all transfer credits are excluded when calculating the SOWELA institutional grade
point average. However, grades for transfer credit will be included when calculating the student’s overall
grade point average. No credit will be given for courses taken at other institutions while under suspension
from SOWELA.
Process for evaluating program
effectiveness
Information to be updated.
Explanation of student
outcomes for each program
Can be found in the STCC Online 2012-2013 Catalog at the beginning of each program description.
Satisfactory academic progress
definition
http://www.sowela.edu/financialaid.asp
http://www.sowela.edu/index.asp
Then click link to left “Satisfactory Academic Progress”
Percent of full-time faculty who
possess the highest degree
% --Data forthcoming.
possible in their given fields
III. Academic Achievement
Board of Regents Report
Freshman to Sophomore
Retention (Same as first to
Second year retention rates,
TCs should use Fall to Spring
retention rates)
Same Institution: 37.0%
Total Retention: 40.4%
http://regents.la.gov/retentiontransferexit-reports/
Select Fall 2011-2012 vs. Fall 2012-2013 from Retention/Transfer/Exit Reports at top of page.
Can be viewed as PDF or Excel Spreadsheet
Graduation Rates (Use IPEDS
GRAD Rates)
The overall graduation rate for first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking students who completed
degrees within 150% of "normal time" was 31% for students who began their studies in fall 2008. The overall
graduation rate for first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking students who completed degrees within
200% of "normal time" was 51% for students who began their studies in fall 2007.
National Center for Education Statistics - College Navigator for Sowela Technical Community College
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=sowela+technical+community+college&s=LA&zc=70601&zd=10&of=3
&l=92&ct=1&ic=2&id=160579#retgrad
Percent of Students taking
Remedial Courses
Fall 2011: 38.02%
Spring 2012: 39.74%
Board of Regents Report
Average time for First-time Full-time Freshmen to Degree – 2.7 calendar years
Average Time to Degree
http://regentsfiles.org/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=505##grs
Select 2011-12 Graduates from Time to Degree at bottom of page
Can be viewed as PDF or Excel Spreadsheet
Licensure Rates from Annual COE Report (2011 – 2012)
Admission Rates into Grad
programs
N/A
May 2011 - May 2012
Practical Nursing
Reporting
Period:
Aviation
Maintenance
Technology
SOWELA Technical Community College
Average Scores on outcome
assessments (grad school
admissions tests, licensure
exams)
Licensure Rate (%)
100.00
93.33
Job placement rates by
discipline
78.9
Percent of budget spent on:
Instruction
49.00%
Public Service
0.00%
Academic Support**
4.40%
Student Services
8.80%
Institutional Services
26.60%
72.7
IV. Institutional Efficiency/Fiscal Conditions
76.9
85.9 100.0 93.5
84.6
86.2 89.3 90.5
78.3
63.9
82.5 87.5
Welding
Process Technology
Practical Nursing
Office Systems Technology
Industrial Instrumentation Technology
91.3 100.0 91.7
Industrial Electrician
Graphic Art
General Apprentice: Plumbing Construction
General Apprentice: Electrical Construction
Drafting & Design Technology
Culinary Occupations
Criminal Justice
Computer Technology - Programming Specialist
Computer Technology - Network Specialist
Collision Repair Technology
Certified Nursing Assistant
Aviation Maintenance Technology
Automotive Technology
Accounting Technology
Annual COE Placement Rate Table
84.8 100.0
Scholarships/Fellowships
2.90%
Plant Operations/ Maintenance 8.30%
Total E&G Expenditures
100.00%
Transfers out of agency
0.00%
Athletics
0.00%
Ratio of administrative staff to
total staff
32.99%
Facilities Data for Sowela:
Average Weekly Room Usage in Classrooms
FTE Hours
1,974
Classroom and Lab space
utilization
Total Room Hours
851
Daytime
785
Nighttime
67
2012
19.7
2011
15.9
2010
5.5
2009
21.0
2008
21.3
2010
8.3
2009
30.5
2008
15.6
Average Weekly Room Usage in Class Laboratories
FTE Hours
1,974
Total Room Hours
1,605
Daytime
1,508
Nighttime
97
2012
22.2
2011
21.4
For further Facilities Details visit Board of Regents’ website (Facilities Data):
http://regentsfiles.org/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=585
General fund appropriations
(including ARRA) per in-state
full-time equivalent student
$0.00
Total Expenditures per fulltime equivalent student
$2,934
FY 12 Annual Student FTE
1,171.97 (Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Summer 2012)
Total FY 12 Actual budget
0
FY 12 State Funds
0