Empowering Women through Inclusive Admissions at CCDC

At Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC), gender is no barrier to higher education. The institution’s admissions policies and outcomes demonstrate a clear commitment to women’s inclusion and success, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality. CCDC actively ensures that women have equal access to apply, enroll, and thrive in college – an approach reflected in both its official policies and its student statistics.

A Clear Policy of Open Admission

CCDC’s admissions policy is unequivocally inclusive. Admission is open to all students who meet the college’s academic and character requirements, with the process overseen by the Registrar to ensure fairness and integrity. In practice, this means CCDC maintains an open admission policy that welcomes female applicants on equal footing with male applicants. The college explicitly upholds an “absolute anti-discrimination policy” – particularly protecting women and transgender students – to guarantee no applicant is treated unfairly. As evidence of this commitment, CCDC reports zero cases of any woman being denied entry based on gender in its history. In short, if a prospective student (male or female) meets the requirements, CCDC ensures they have a place at the college.

This inclusive ethos is also grounded in national principles and laws. The Student Handbook emphasizes gender sensitivity, equity, and non-discrimination, aligning with broader Philippine mandates on inclusivity. CCDC integrates these values into its governance and campus life, creating a safe environment for all students regardless of gender or background. By adhering to these standards, the college’s admission process not only opens doors for women but also fosters an environment where they are respected and supported throughout their education.

Women’s Enrollment on the Rise (2021–2023)

Recent data from CCDC’s admissions underscore how this policy translates into real progress for women. Women’s representation among incoming students has been steadily climbing each year. In 2021, women made up just under half of new enrollees. By 2022, women comprised about 45.9% of all students beginning a degree at CCDC. This upward trend continued into 2023, when female students were nearly at parity with males in the freshman cohort – approximately 49% of new entrants in 2023 were women. In fact, out of 427 first-year students enrolled in 2023, 222 were female (52%) – slightly outnumbering their male counterparts. This marks a significant shift toward gender balance in enrollment, reflecting CCDC’s efforts to encourage and welcome women applicants.

Percentage of women among CCDC’s new enrollees and graduates, 2021–2023. The share of female students at entry has grown from around 43% in 2021 to about 49% in 2023, indicating near parity in admissions. Notably, women’s share of graduates has surged even more – from roughly 45% in 2021 to over 65% by 2023 – showing that once admitted, female students are excelling and completing their programs in high numbers.

This inclusive intake is coupled with a 100% acceptance rate for qualified female applicants, thanks to the open-admissions approach. The absence of any gender-based admission complaints attests that women who seek education at CCDC are given the opportunity to enroll. In short, every woman who aspires to attend CCDC and meets the requirements can do so, free from arbitrary barriers. The rising proportion of women in each new class suggests that outreach and equal-opportunity policies are effectively enabling more young women to pursue college education.

Women Achieving and Graduating in Greater Numbers

Importantly, CCDC’s commitment to women does not stop at admission – it carries through to academic success. Once enrolled, female students are achieving high completion rates, outpacing their male peers. The college’s data show that women now form the majority of CCDC graduates. In 2021, women accounted for about 45% of graduates, but by 2022 this jumped to 63.5% of all graduates. Most recently, in the year-end graduation of 2023, roughly 65.2% of CCDC’s graduates were female – nearly two-thirds of the graduating class. This dramatic rise in female graduates (from less than half to almost two-thirds in the span of two years) highlights not only improved female enrollment but also excellent retention and completion among women students.

Such outcomes illustrate that women at CCDC are not only entering college in greater numbers, but also finishing their studies at very high rates. In fact, the increasing number of women earning degrees is viewed as a success indicator of CCDC’s support systems and inclusive culture. The Dean of the College of Criminal Justice Education noted, for example, a growing influx of female students in traditionally male-dominated programs like criminology, accompanied by strong graduation rates – a trend attributed to improved support and conditions for women in those fields. Across various disciplines, female students are excelling. Notably, in 2022 women comprised 100% of CCDC’s graduates in STEM courses (up from 88% in 2021), demonstrating their growing presence in fields where women have been historically underrepresented. The same pattern holds in other fields like social sciences, where the proportion of female graduates also saw a sharp increase.

CCDC’s student services and academic support programs have undoubtedly played a role in these outcomes. College officials report that more students – “most especially women” – are now proactive in seeking help through counseling and support services when needed. This willingness to utilize support reflects a campus climate where female students feel safe and empowered to ask for assistance, which in turn helps them persist to graduation. The college’s gender-responsive policies (such as strengthening harassment reporting systems and promoting a respectful campus culture) further ensure that women can focus on their studies and personal growth without fear of discrimination. The result is a virtuous cycle: inclusive admissions bring more women into college, and an inclusive environment helps more women succeed and graduate.

Supporting First-Generation Female Students – Breaking Barriers

Behind these numbers are life-changing opportunities. A significant portion of CCDC’s female students are first-generation college students – often the first women in their entire family to attend college. In 2021, about 55.1% of the women who enrolled at CCDC were the first in their family to pursue higher education, and this share grew to 63.6% in 2022. By 2023, over half of incoming female students (around 58%) were first-generation college-goers. These figures highlight how CCDC is opening its doors especially to young women from families and communities where attending college was never previously an option.

For these first-generation female students, gaining admission to CCDC is more than just personal achievement – it is a transformative milestone for their families. Each of these young women is “breaking new ground in their families by being the first to attend a higher education institution”, a trend that signals increasing access for those historically left behind. The impact is profound: as the first college-educated woman in the family, she becomes a role model for siblings and peers, and can lift her family’s economic prospects. CCDC recognizes the importance of supporting such students so they not only enroll but also graduate successfully.

The college’s financial aid and support programs are tailored to keep education accessible for women from all walks of life. Many female students benefit from scholarships, grants, and discounts – in fact, women consistently made up more than half of scholarship recipients in 2023, reflecting CCDC’s effort to help female students afford school. On campus, initiatives like the Ayowan (Care) program provide counseling, mentoring, and tutoring to ensure that first-generation students (who may lack family guidance on college life) get the encouragement and help they need. It’s telling that women form the majority of those utilizing mentoring and counseling services – 73% of students who accessed these support services in 2021 were female – showing that CCDC’s female students actively engage with resources that help them excel.

All these efforts cultivate a supportive atmosphere where first-generation women can thrive. “Once students feel supported in all areas of their lives, they thrive,” notes a CCDC article highlighting the college’s high overall completion rate of 79%. First-generation female enrollees, who face unique challenges, are graduating in growing numbers – empowered by education to enter careers in fields like education, law, health, and technology. The presence of female leaders among CCDC’s faculty and administration (women hold roughly 65–66% of senior academic positions as of 2023) further reinforces a culture of female empowerment. Young women at CCDC can see examples of successful women in leadership, which inspires them to aim high and break gender norms in their chosen professions.

Conclusion: Inclusive Admissions as a Catalyst for Women’s Empowerment

CCDC’s clear and inclusive admissions policy for women – combined with its robust support systems – is guiding first-generation and underrepresented young women toward academic success. The data tells a compelling story: more women are applying and being admitted without bias, and more women are completing their degrees than ever before. This progress is not only a win for CCDC, but also for the broader community, as educated women become agents of change in their families and industries. By bringing education closer to the people, CCDC is ensuring that women from all backgrounds have a fair shot at college and a brighter future. In doing so, the college exemplifies how fulfilling the promise of equal access to education can drive female empowerment and help realize the goals of gender equality, one graduating class at a time.

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