STUDENT ENROLLMENT, GRADUATION AND RETENTION
Brooks Institute educates a diverse student body of aspiring professionals to pursue
careers in the visual, new media, and communication arts. Brooks Institute utilizes a multidisciplinary approach that promotes collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity to develop
graduates who are technologically adept and visually sophisticated with high standards of
professional ethics. Programs offered are:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Professional Photography
Bachelor of Science in Visual Journalism
Master of Fine Arts in Photography
Master of Science in Scientific and Technological Imaging
ENROLLMENT
Brooks Institute has experienced a steady decline in student population over the past
eight years. As shown in Table 1, in the recent reporting year, Brooks had a 17.0% decrease in
unduplicated student population year over year. This decrease contributes to an overall average
decrease of 17.8% since 2006.
Table 1. Student Enrollment
Unduplicated
Headcount
2006-07
Y8
2,698
2007-08
Y7
2,152
2008-09
Y6
1,604
2009-10
Y5
1,266
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2010-11
Y4
1,045
2011-12
Y3
942
2012-13
Y2
816
2013-14
Y1
677
8 Year Total
11,200
In response, Brooks has been focused on recruiting and recapturing students through a
variety of enrollment management initiatives. In the area of recruiting students, a full time
Community Relations Manager (CRM) was hired to focus specifically on high school recruiting.
The CRM has facilitated a variety of school visits and attended events which draw large numbers
of potential students interested in Brooks Institute.
In the area of recapturing students, Brooks has developed formal processes for outreach
to former students in a withdrawn status. Contact is made with this targeted group of former
students to identify those who may have an interest in re-entering Brooks and completing their
programs. For 2014, this effort has resulted in the return to Brooks Institute of 25% of previously
withdrawn students.
GRADUATION
Brooks Institute has seen a slight increase in graduation rates of undergraduate students
over the past 8 years. As seen in Table 2, in 2006-07 the total number of undergraduate degree
recipients was 531 or 20% of the total student headcount of 2,698 (Table 1). This percentage
increased to 25% of the total student headcount from 2007-08 to 2009-10 and then again in
2012-13 and 2013-14 (Table 2).
Table 2. Undergraduate Degree Recipients
Unduplicated
Headcount
2006-07
Y8
531
2007-08
Y7
522
2008-09
Y6
391
2009-10
Y5
309
2010-11
Y4
226
2011-12
Y3
195
2012-13
Y2
208
2013-14
Y1
169
8 Year Total
2,551
As shown in Table 3, Brooks has seen an improvement in the Absolute Graduate Rate
(AGR) of 30% or more between 2009 and 2014 for the group of students who graduated within a
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four- or five-year period. Absolute Graduate Rate (AGR) is defined as the proportion of all
undergraduate degree-seeking students entering an institution who eventually graduate. These
improvements in graduation rate illustrates that efforts put into place to ensure student
persistence, such as monitoring student performance and providing proactive outreach, have
been effective. It is important to note that Brooks has a student population made of full-time,
part-time and transfer students.
Table 3. Absolute Graduation Rate (AGR)
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Y8
Y7
Y6
Y5
Y4
Y3
Y2
Y1
8 Year Total
68%
135%
155%
183%
157%
103%
263%
281%
168%
95%
99%
112%
104%
97%
107%
113%
71%
78%
78%
83%
96%
95%
57%
58%
68%
83%
85%
45%
55%
69%
75%
Absolute
Graduation
Rates (AGR)
AGR 2-year
average
AGR 3-year
average
AGR 4-year
average
AGR 5-year
average
RETENTION
In the area of student retention, Brooks has maintained an average retention rate of 74%
since 2006-07. As illustrated in Table 4, Brooks has shown a strong increase in retention rates of
full-time students from 72% in 2012-13 to 77% in 2013-14. Brooks attributes this improvement
in retention to activities of its Persistence Team. This cross departmental team meets on a weekly
basis and provides supportive outreach to students who are struggling academically or have been
absent from class. Students are invited to meet with an academic advisor and/or Program Chair
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for assistance in areas of need; such as to discuss financial concerns, transportation issues, and
any personal concerns that are inhibiting continuous attendance and/or academic success.
Table 4. Student Retention
IPEDS Retention Rates
(Full Time Bachelor)
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Ave.
73%
65%
93%
70%
63%
81%
72%
77%
74%
The Student Services team is working on initiatives to reduce the number of students who
do not return after the end of the semester by proactively engaging students earlier in the
registration process. These efforts will result in an annual course schedule where students are
registered for a minimum of one year out, thus allowing students to plan in advance to balance
work and daycare schedules, transportation, and other personal challenges. Additionally, as
students identify situations that may require them to temporarily leave school due to personal
situations, they can be individually counseled and prepared for a smooth transition back into
Brooks. These efforts are expected to positively increase the percentage of returning students
over the next year.
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