Assessing selected educational outcomes among Filipinos at Rainbow Community College

This is a descriptive study using 6 years of secondary data to determine how a cohort of entering Filipino students at Rainbow Community College were performing on selected educational outcomes including Math and English placements (based on COMPASS test scores), remedial, developmental, and college level English and Math course attempts and completions, and finally, degree and certificate outcomes. Scant research exists on Filipino student performance in community colleges, especially since Filipinos are typically aggregated into a larger Asian category. Results found a majority of the cohort placing into at least one remedial or developmental course in English or Math and very few students transferring and completing a Baccalaureate degree. No significant differences were found when comparing English and Math completion rates by gender and no discernable patterns were found regarding English and Math course taking patterns in relation to degree completion. The results indicated that students' best chance to successfully complete their remedial/developmental coursework is if it is attempted within the first year of enrollment in the college. Some policy implementations are suggested. The small size of the Filipino cohort was one of the major limitations of the study. Future research possibilities are also discussed.