The MJC College Research and Planning Office frequently engages in qualitative and quantitative research focused on telling the stories and experiences of our students, employees, and surrounding community. This research is used to inform decisions across campus and evoke continuous improvement and student-centered change in ways that positively impact our students and the MJC community as a whole.
Qualitative research at MJC regularly consists of surveys, focus groups, and/or interviews. Click on a project title below to learn more about the project and access any associated reports and presentations.
A mixed-methods design was used to (1) identify students with basic need insecurities, (2) understand challenges faced by these students and their attitudes towards the college’s basic need programs, and (3) determine faculty and staff perceptions of basic need insecurity within the college.
The purpose of this survey was to (1) identify organizational climate factors that may contribute to voluntary employee turnover at Modesto Junior College and (2) evaluate the campus climate for diversity through both overall perceptions and individual employee experiences. The results from this survey will be used to inform decisions surrounding the attainment of Objective B.1 of the 2023-2028 MJC Strategic Plan and to support the work of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism (IDEAA) committee on campus.
Click here to access the Employee Climate Survey Report.
The purpose of this survey was to give students the opportunity to share their personal experiences with campus conditions, perception of employee diversity, level of student belonging, curriculum inclusivity, safety on campus, and overall perception of Modesto Junior College. The results from this survey will be used to inform decisions surrounding the attainment of Objective B.1.2 of the 2023-2032 MJC Educational Master Plan and to support the work of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism (IDEAA) committee on campus.
The purpose of this survey is to (1) identify which factors Modesto Junior College students consider when enrolling in courses each semester and (2) examine the impact of student learning motivations, academic integration, degree commitment, institutional commitment, and support services satisfaction on course enrollment.
Click here to access the Enrollment Motivation Survey Report.
The purpose of this survey is to (1) identify why students who were enrolled in a specified term decided to not enroll in the subsequent term, and (2) provide a basis for future study and intervention development related to early attrition indicators among MJC students. The results from this survey will be used to inform decisions surrounding the attainment of Objective C.1 of the 2023-2028 MJC Strategic Plan, Objectives A.3 and B.2 of the 2023-2032 Educational Master Plan, and to support the work of the Strategic Enrollment Management workgroup on campus.
Click here to access the Non-Returning Students Survey Report.
The purpose of this survey was to identify what students consider to be the major strengths and opportunities for improvement within their declared academic program. The results from this survey are provided to programs as part of their data packet for Program Review. When possible (i.e. when there are at least 30 responses for a department), results are filtered by department to provide the most useful level of data for the Program Review process.
The purpose of this survey was to determine student attitudes toward textbook affordability as well as their satisfaction with ZTC and traditional course materials in the areas of quality, integration, and usability. The results from this survey will be used to inform decisions surrounding the attainment of Objective A.1 of the 2023-2028 MJC Strategic Plan, Goal 1 of the 2021-2023 ZTC Program Plan, and to support the work of the ZTC workgroup on campus.
Click here to access the Student ZTC/OER Survey Report.
The purpose of this survey was to determine faculty attitudes towards ZTC/OER and traditional course materials, while also examining the factors influencing faculty decisions regarding course materials. The results of this survey will be used to inform decisions surrounding the attainment of objective A.1. of the 2023-2028 MJC Strategic Plan, Goal 1 of the 2021-2023 ZTC Program Plan, and to support the work of the ZTC workgroup on campus.
Quantitative research is also frequently conducted at MJC. Click on a project title below to learn more about the project and access any associated reports and presentations.
This study presents an analysis of academic probation rates among first-time freshmen (FTF) at Modesto Junior College from Fall 2021 (2021MFA) to Fall 2024 (2024MFA). The findings highlight trends in first-year and second-year probation rates, persistence to second fall, and disaggregated insights by ethnicity, gender, first-generation status, and income level. Results reveal disparities and declining overall probation rates over time.
Part 1 of this study analyzes participation and success outcomes for dual enrollment
students at Modesto Junior College. It disaggregates data by gender and ethnicity
to identify disproportionate impact
(DI) using the Percentage Point Gap (PPG-1) methodology and assesses representation
gaps through the Equity Index (EI).
Part 2 will be conducted during the Fall 2025 semester.
Access the Assessing Dual Enrollment Participation & Success Report
The purpose of this study was to (1) identify who enrolls in MJC's local degree programs, and (2) examine the student educational outcomes compared to their self-selected educational goal at time of application. The results of this study was used to inform decisions made by the General Education Committee at MJC during the transition to the CAL-GETC model.
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of MJC's student support programs on student course retention, course success, Fall-to-Spring persistence, and Fall-to-Fall persistence.
The purpose of this study was to examine the 6-year outcomes of the MJC Fall 2018 First-Time Student Cohort. This study summarizes trends in transfer, graduation, and enrollment outcomes and highlights where students continue their education, complete programs, or stop attending. Additional insights include patterns among CTE, STEM, and other programs, offering context for student pathways.
Access the Tracking Transfer at Modesto Junior College Report
Evaluation at MJC is a systematic process that is completed for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of the college's programs and initiatives. Evaluations assist in decision-making and aid in identifying areas for improvement and/or modification. To learn more about the Evaluation process, check out the Institute of Education Sciences' Program Evaluation Toolkit. Click on a project title below to learn more about the project and access any associated reports and presentations.
The purpose of this evaluation is to evaluate (1) the degree to which Guided Pathways has been institutionally adopted and implemented at MJC and (2) the impact MJC’s Guided Pathways efforts have had on student success metrics.
Access the Guided Pathways Implementation & Impact Evaluation Report
