(Clarksdale, Mississippi) – Coahoma Community College has joined the Complete College Accelerator, a national initiative designed to improve student success, increase completion rates, and expand equitable access across higher education institutions.
Coahoma Community College is one of eleven state partners representing more than 80 institutions nationwide selected for the inaugural cohort. Through the Complete College Accelerator, the College will implement structured, evidence-based strategies that strengthen academic pathways, advising, and student engagement from enrollment through completion.
“As Enrollment Manager and Retention lead, the Complete College Accelerator reflects a clear commitment to action, ensuring every student has a defined pathway, timely support, and the momentum needed to complete,” said Loria Barfield, enrollment manager.
The initiative aligns with existing institutional priorities and builds on student success strategies already in place at Coahoma Community College, including the CARE Model, which stands for Connect, Alert, Respond, and Engage. This framework focuses on early connection, timely identification of risk, targeted intervention, and sustained student engagement throughout the academic experience.
“The Complete College Accelerator represents a commitment to removing barriers, strengthening support systems, and creating clear pathways that position students for persistence and completion,” said Barfield.
Recent institutional data highlights both progress and areas for continued focus. The College’s Fall 2024 first time, full time cohort retention rate is 75 percent, compared to 78 percent for the Fall 2023 cohort. The graduation rate for the 2022 cohort, measured within 150 percent of program time, is 39 percent. These outcomes reinforce the need for targeted, data-informed strategies to improve retention and completion.
Work within the Complete College Accelerator centers on aligning institutional strategy with measurable outcomes through data analysis, proactive advising, and coordinated student support systems.
Through this initiative, Coahoma Community College will expand early alert systems, strengthen advising structures, and increase collaboration across academic and student support areas. These efforts are designed to ensure students are identified early, supported consistently, and guided efficiently toward completion.
“At the center of the Complete College Accelerator is a focus on meeting students where they are, guiding them with intention, and ensuring they reach completion,” said Barfield.
Participation in the Complete College Accelerator reflects the continued focus on access, equity, and student-centered transformation. By combining national best practices with institutional strategy, Coahoma Community College aims to increase persistence, improve completion rates, and support student success across all populations.
Boilerplate
Founded in 1949, Coahoma Community College is a public, comprehensive, historically Black community college serving the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Coahoma offers Associate of Arts degrees, Associate of Applied Science degrees, and specialized certificates across dozens of diverse academic and career pathways. Located on a 99-acre campus in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the College is celebrating 77 years of academic excellence. In addition to its affordable tuition and generous scholarship opportunities, Coahoma has earned widespread recognition in nursing and health sciences, career technical education, and university transfer programs. Outside of the classroom, students are involved in competitive NJCAA athletics as well as a variety of organizations and clubs, including student government, the celebrated college choir, and the renowned Marching Maroon Typhoon Band.