Participation

The VFA a clear, consistent, and effective way to measure student progress and outcomes and institutional effectiveness.

The VFA is transitioning to a new model of operation for the 2025 cycle.

For the 2025 VFA collection cycle, AACC is partnering with National Student Clearinghouse to collect and display VFA data and metrics as part of the PDP (Postsecondary Data Partnership).  AACC hosted a webinar with more details on the transition plan and the rationale.  It will soon be available for review.

A synopsis of the information presented is provided below:

  • AACC is decommissioning the existing VFA site on March 1.
    • Colleges should download any reports from the VFA site before that time.
    • AACC will provide an EXCEL file with all the historical data for all colleges that participated in the VFA
    • AACC will maintain a copy of all aggregate data reported by the colleges.
  • For 2025, colleges that want to use VFA metrics will use the existing PDP file upload process and have access to all PDP dashboards and data.
  • AACC is developing a roadmap with PDP to include VFA metrics in the PDP
    • Many VFA metrics are already there in dashboards, or can be calculated using the student level files they provide
    • Some are being developed and will be available in 2025
    • Some will require more time to be developed and implemented
  • PDP will have a new dashboard with the VFA 6-year outcomes for 2025
  • AACC has received grant funding to assist VFA colleges transition to the PDP to include:
    • Financial support to join the PDP in year 1 to a price-point similar to VFA participation
    • Assistance with developing the PDP data upload files
    • Assistance using the PDP dashboards
    • Assistance using the PDP student level (Analysis Ready files)
  • AACC will be communicating soon with more details on the transition.

 

The VFA team knows this is a significant change in practice; however, the webinar goes into details on why we have chosen this route.

We will send a link to the webinar to all VFA participants and will be hosting more informational sessions in the weeks to come.

 

 

Questions regarding VFA participation? Please contact us at VFA@aacc.nche.edu.

Participation FAQ

Q. Why participate in the VFA?

The VFA is the foundational accountability framework for our colleges for now and into the future and it gives community colleges what has long been lacking in reporting outcomes to the public and policymakers: specific metrics that assess how they do in areas such as student progress and achievement.

The data collected and shared is specific to community colleges and focused on telling internal and external audiences what they need to know to shape improvement strategies and provide resources. With better, more appropriate measures, our colleges can use the VFA for reporting to boards and local, state, and regional stakeholders; responding to calls for performance funding; shaping policy and advocacy; improving practices; identifying institutional effectiveness; and benchmarking to peer colleges.

The more colleges that join, the greater our voice will be.

Q. How do I participate in the VFA?

All community colleges that are AACC members are eligible to participate in the VFA. Colleges will sign up to participate in the Postsecondary Data Partnership (PDP).  AACC will work with PDP to identify VFA participating colleges.

Q. Which community colleges can participate in the VFA?

All community colleges are eligible to participate in the VFA/PDP.

Q. When can colleges sign up to participate in the VFA?

More information on the signup process will be provided at a later date.

Q. When is the VFA Participation Year and the Data Collection Cycle?
Participation in the VFA is for one calendar year, January 1 to December 31. The Data Collection process begins with the release of an updated Metrics Manual in February, followed by data collection opening in March and closing in August. 

Q. What is required to participate in the VFA?

Participation will be open to any college interested in participating.  Current VFA participants will be provided more details on the process for participation.
Q. Are AACC membership dues the same as VFA participation dues?
No, VFA/PDP participation is a separate fee.  Some support for colleges who participated in the Voluntary Framework of Accountability in 2024 will provided to sign up for the PDP.

Q. Can my district, system office, association, commission, or state office participate in the VFA?

Yes. There will be a state-level VFA/PDP participation model.  More details will be available soon.

Q. Why is the VFA website being decommissioned?

In order to facilitate the transition from the existing VFA infrastructure to using the PDP as the data and collection tool, the VFA team decided it was important to close out all activities on the VFA web-site for 2025 to avoid duplicative effort and costs.