(a) All participating districts shall, with the assistance of the chancellor, establish and maintain institutional research to evaluate the effectiveness of the Student Success and Support Program described by this article and of any other programs or services designed to facilitate students’ completion of their educational goals and courses of study.

(b) The metrics for this research shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Prior educational experience, including transcripts when appropriate, as determined by the chancellor.

(2) Educational goals and courses of study.

(3) Criteria for exemption from orientation, assessment, or required counseling or advisement, if applicable.

(4) Need for financial assistance.

(5) Disaggregated data by ethnicity, gender, disability, age, and socioeconomic status, to the extent this information is available.

(6) Academic performance, such as the completion of specified unit thresholds, success in basic skills courses, grade point average, course completion outcomes, transfer readiness, and degree and certificate completion.

(7) Any additional information that the chancellor finds appropriate.

(c) The evaluation provided for by this section shall include an assessment of the effectiveness of the programs and services in attaining at least the following objectives:

(1) Helping students to define their academic and career goals and declare a course of study.

(2) Assisting institutions in the assessment of students’ educational needs and valid course placement.

(3) Helping support students’ successful course completion and goal attainment.

(4) Matching institutional resources with students’ educational needs.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 624, Sec. 9. (SB 1456) Effective January 1, 2013. Note: See provision in Section 78218 making operation contingent upon funding.)