Getting students into college is only the first step. Then we have to get them into programs. Getting them into programs (degree plans?) makes it more likely that they will complete. And really, aren’t we all wasting time and money if they don’t?
Many new students arrive at community colleges without clear goals for college and careers. Community colleges offer a wide array of programs but typically provide little guidance to help students choose and successfully enter a program of study. Community college departments often do not closely monitor the progress of students who do enter their programs to ensure that they complete.
from Get With the Program, a working paper by the Community College Research Center