Lost but Not Forgotten? Community College Efforts to Reengage Students Lost Before the Census Date

Community colleges continue to experience declining enrollment, and the most overlooked losses occur before students reach the census date when official enrollment is counted. Conducted by RAND in conjunction with the Research Institute at Dallas College, this research underscores the significance of this early phase in the context of Texas, California, and Kentucky. Across participating colleges, 10 to 15 percent of newly enrolled students withdraw before the census deadline, and when measured from initial application, as many as two-thirds never become official enrollees. This trend is particularly critical for large community college systems where student pathways are complex and early operational barriers can significantly influence enrollment outcomes.

This study examines the journey from application through enrollment and identifies where students fall away and why, using Dallas College as a case study. We find that although colleges generally have the data necessary to track these early stages, siloed systems make it difficult to follow applicants’ progress. Students often navigate multiple disconnected processes during registration such as multi-step applications, inconsistent advising, and varying departmental requirements. Communication is another challenge; applicants are uncertain about deadlines and next steps due to a high volume of emails and messages that lack clear sequencing. Financial aid delays are another driver of early withdrawal, as many students begin classes without finalized aid decisions or with incomplete applications. Additionally, advising during the pre-census period is commonly transactional, which limits the ability of success coaches and advisors to build rapport with students and uncover non-academic needs such as childcare, food, transportation, or housing. These structural obstacles and unmet personal needs can lead students to disengage with their institutions before reaching the census date of the term.

The research offers the following strategies to mitigate early student loss and improve retention.

• Colleges should streamline IT or technology systems and clearly define enrollment handoffs to enhance student data tracking and accessibility.
• Communication strategies such as welcome and key emails should be simplified, personalized, and supplemented with targeted text messaging.
• A team-based case management model is recommended to strengthen student support and engagement.
• Financial aid processes need improvement through timely prompts and expanded support for undecided students, including an increase in undecided options, longer and flexible timelines for credential and degree selection, and enhanced orientation and career exploration efforts.
• Institutions should invest in ongoing staff professional development and implement monitoring systems to reduce student loss.
• States are encouraged to adopt coordinated basic needs support models and integrate data systems to track student progress and personalize outreach for students vulnerable to attrition.