A cohort code is used to track graduation rates for groups of students. As part of the Right to Know Act for prospective students, statistics are generated and published about these cohort groups (example of cohort codes).
When establishing a cohort, you must include only those full-time first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates who entered the institution during one of the time periods used to establish a cohort as described below.
· Institutions that offer a predominant number of programs based on standard academic terms (semesters, trimesters, or quarters) will report using a fall cohort of students. Institutions may use a census date of October 15, the end of the institution's drop-add period, or another official fall reporting date to determine the cohort. This date should be the same reporting date established for the IPEDS Fall Enrollment report.
· Institutions that do not offer a predominant number of programs based on standard academic terms (semesters, trimesters, or quarters) must count all those students who entered the institution at any time between September 1 and August 31 of the cohort year and who attended at least 1 day of class as entering students.
Once you establish your cohort, it will not change. Students will remain in the cohort even though they may drop out, change to part-time status, or change their program.