A Federal Reserve Bank report and enrollment trends are forcing a rethink of how community‑college success is measured. The Richmond Fed’s broader 'success rate' that counts degrees, credentials, transfers and persistence showed a nearly 50% success rate—well above the traditional federal graduation metric—prompting calls for more nuanced accountability. At the same time, California’s troubled online community college, Calbright, which lawmakers once moved to shutter, is now reporting rapid enrollment growth, suggesting alternative online models can scale. Together the reports underscore that policymakers and institutions must update metrics and support models to reflect part‑time students, transfers, credentials and workforce outcomes.