FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2010

Fourteen Louisiana Community and Technical College System colleges were recently ranked in Community College Week's 2010 edition of the Top 100 Associate Degree Producers which was published on June 14. The 2010 Top 100 analysis examines degrees and certificates awarded during the 2008-2009 academic year. The data is collected by the National Center for Education Statistics, or NCES, through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Set, or IPEDS, completions survey. The survey took both two-year and four-year institutions into account. The survey ranked colleges in different categories which included associate degree producers in general with breakdowns by race, associate degree by discipline producers which considered 19 disciplines, one-year certificate producers in general with breakdowns by race and two-year certificate producers in general with breakdowns by race.

"I'm quite impressed with the continued efforts of our colleges to provide the education and training so desperately needed in Louisiana. Their persistent efforts and hard work throughout the state have definitely paid off and these rankings are another confirmation of that fact. As we continue growing, expanding and producing more associate degree graduates, the economic status of our state will improve as individuals make decisions to either transfer onto a four-year institution or go directly into the workforce. I wish heartfelt congratulations to our institutions on receiving this distinction," said LCTCS President Dr. Joe D. May.

South Central Louisiana Technical College, Young Memorial Campus made the ranks on many lists in the publication. The college received the highest rankings of an LCTCS college placing second in the nation as an overall producer of one-year certificates awarding 3,862 certificates in the 2008-09 academic years. In the reports which considered race, Young Memorial campus was ranked first in the nation among one-year certificate producers for non-minorities. One-hundred campuses were ranked in the category. The campus ranked third in the nation for one-year certificate production for Native Americans (out of 100 campuses listed). Young Memorial ranked fourth in the nation as a one-year certificate producer for African American students (out of 100 campuses). The campus also ranked seventh out of 100 among one-year certificate producers for minorities overall. Finally, Young Memorial ranked 70th out of 100 for one-year certificate production in the Hispanic population.

Delgado Community College, located in New Orleans, made the ranks on eight different lists. Nationally known as a top provider of healthcare training,it was listed as a top producer of related degrees. In the Nursing category, Delgado placed 24th out of 50 ranked associate degree producers. The school was ranked 36th in the nation as a producer of Associate Degrees for Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences. In the category of Communication, Journalism and Related Programs, Delgado ranked 37th out of 50. Delgado also placed 46th on the list of Top One-year Certificate Producers, which took into account the top 100 producers in the nation. On the lists that considered race, Delgado ranked 49th out of 100 associate degree producers for African Americans in the category of all disciplines and ranked 53rd out of 100 one-year certificate producers for African Americans. Considering all minorities receiving one-year certificates, Delgado ranked 70th out of 100 producers. For non-minorities receiving one-year certificates, Delgado ranked 67th in the nation. Delgado is also ranked 47th out of 100 for providing one-year certificates to Native Americans.

Bossier Parish Community College ranked 14th in the nation for producing associate degrees in Community Technologies/Technicians and Support Services. The college produced 44 degrees in the category for the 2008-09 academic year.

Sowela Technical Community College was ranked 27th in the category of top 50 associate degree producers in Engineering Technologies/Technicians. The college produced 124 degrees in the category for 2008-09 year.

L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College ranked 87th in the nation as aproducer of one-year certificates overall. In the categories considering race, Fletcher ranked 19th out of 100 as a producer of one-year certificates for Native Americans. For non-minority students, Fletcher is 76th in the nation for the production of one-year certificates.

Three LCTCS colleges made the ranks as top producers of two-year certificates for African Americans. Capital Area Technical College, Folkes Campus was ranked 17th in the nation, Northeast Louisiana Technical College, Shreveport-Bossier Campus was ranked 52nd and Northwest Louisiana Technical College, Northwest Campus was ranked 59th out of 100 colleges. The Folkes campus was also ranked 76th out of 100 for two-year certificate production for all minorities in the nation. Capital Area Technical College, Baton Rouge Campus was ranked 87th in the same category.

The majority of the LCTCS colleges made the ranks on the list of one-year certificate producers for African American students in the United States. In addition to Young Memorial campus and Delgado Community College, six additional colleges were listed as top providers. Capital Area Technical College, Folkes Campus ranked 45th, Northshore Technical College, Sullivan Campus ranked 54th, Capital Area Technical College, Baton Rouge Campus ranked 55th, Northwest Louisiana Technical College, Northwest Campus ranked 57th, Acadiana Technical College, Lafayette Campus ranked 72nd and Northeast Louisiana Technical College, Tallulah Campus ranked 92nd.

Acadiana Technical College, Gulf Area Campus was ranked 77th in the nation for two-year certificate production for Native American students. In the category of one-year certificate production for Native Americans, Northwest Louisiana Technical College, Sabine Valley Campus was ranked 69th and Northwest Louisiana Technical College, Northwest Campus was ranked 80th.

Community College Week is a bi-weekly publication that has been the independent source of in-depth information for and about two-year college faculty, administrators and trustees since 1988. The magazine provides a myriad of coverage on issues in community college education including analyses of critical academic trends and issues, vital statistics, technology updates and employment opportunities.

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Louisiana's Workforce Solution: The Louisiana Community and Technical College System enrolls more than 60,000 students at its institutions throughout the state. Providing a Day One Guarantee, our colleges strive to direct the high demand, industry-sensitive training our State needs. We focus on workforce and economic development, and on improving the quality of life of Louisiana’s citizens through educational programs offered at our 50 campus locations. Our System colleges include: Baton Rouge Community College, Bossier Parish Community College, Delgado Community College, L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College, Louisiana Delta Community College, Nunez Community College, River Parishes Community College, South Louisiana Community College, SOWELA Technical Community College, and the Louisiana Technical College, with campuses in eight regions throughout the state.