Howard Community College (HCC) has once again demonstrated its commitment to excellence by leveraging the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework to drive student success, workforce engagement, and financial stability. As an open-access public community college, HCC has established itself as a leader in higher education by continuously improving its academic programs, support services, and strategic initiatives.
Driving Educational Excellence with the Baldrige Framework
The Baldrige Framework has enabled HCC to integrate strategic planning, performance management, and continuous improvement methodologies to achieve outstanding results in student success, employee engagement, and institutional sustainability.
Key Achievements & Excellence in Performance
1. Student Success & Academic Excellence
- HCC has consistently outperformed national benchmarks for associate degree and certificate attainment by over 200%.
- Graduation rates for Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino students tripled within two years of entry, demonstrating HCC’s commitment to equity and inclusion.
- The graduate placement rate for health sciences students is 100% in seven out of eight programs, ensuring strong career outcomes.
- Course persistence rates have increased from 75% in 2016 to over 80% in 2018, surpassing state and national benchmarks.
2. Workforce Engagement & Development
- Named a “Great College to Work For” for 11 consecutive years, making HCC one of the top-rated community colleges nationwide.
- Employee ratings on workplace satisfaction exceed national norms by 7–18% across key dimensions such as collaboration, compensation, and institutional pride.
- Turnover rates improved from 8.3% in 2018, significantly better than the national average of 14%.
- HCC’s targeted recruitment strategies have resulted in a minority draw rate exceeding the local demographic representation.
3. Financial Strength & Market Growth
- HCC maintains the highest full-time-equivalent enrollment growth in Maryland over the past decade, directly impacting state funding.
- The college’s market share among county undergraduates is 23% higher than any other Maryland four-year institution.
- HCC ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for credit course enrollment and in the 93rd percentile for noncredit courses, reflecting strong community engagement.
4. Strategic Planning & Institutional Effectiveness
- HCC reduced its number of strategic objectives by over half and streamlined action plans by two-thirds, resulting in a 100% completion rate for strategic goals from 2016 to 2019.
- Enhanced graduation-transfer rates to 55% and improved the percentage of developmental education completers to 45%.
- Stakeholder-driven planning, including engagement with county leaders, has strengthened community impact and institutional alignment.
5. Sustainability & Community Impact
- As an original signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, HCC has reduced emissions by 0.21 metric tons, saving over $74,280 in six years.
- A projected cost savings of $123,000 over the next two years underscores HCC’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
A Model for Higher Education Excellence
HCC’s commitment to the Baldrige Framework has transformed its institutional operations, positioning it as a national leader in student achievement, workforce engagement, and financial sustainability. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and strategic alignment, HCC continues to set a high standard for community colleges nationwide.
Looking Forward
Howard Community College’s success with the Baldrige Framework showcases how structured excellence models can drive impactful change in higher education. By maintaining its focus on student achievement, employee engagement, and financial strength, HCC remains a beacon of innovation and leadership in the academic community.