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Health & Fitness

The University of Connecticut's Four-Year Graduation Rate

A news story about how the University of Connecticut is helping students graduate on time.

            The University of Connecticut wants more of its students to graduate in four years.

            President Susan Herbst has formed a task force to find ways to help students graduate on time. The four-year graduation rate is at 68 percent.

            “We are doing phenomenal as public universities go but we need to close that gap and get the four-year rate closer to the mid 70s,” said Wayne Locust, the vice president of enrollment, who will lead the graduation and retention task force.

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            The six-year graduation rate of 83 percent is also a concern. The effect of graduating on time is especially pertinent to the university because of the challenging economic times. An extra year at a public university burdens the student with tuition fees, room and board, and summer school. Tuition bills have parents financially strained and student debt is at an all-time high. The majority of students cannot afford to wait to join the job force.

            Nationally university leaders are pushing for on-time completion spurred because of criticism over wasted tax dollars, increased tuition and America’s falling global rank in college attainment. UConn has publicly affirmed its agenda to improve its four-year graduation rate.

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            The goal of the UConn task force of 20 faculty members and students is to identify and solve problem areas where there is a great disparity. For example, students of color have a significant graduation disparity, which is a national problem not unique to UConn. Males in general graduate at a lower rate than the general population. There is also a disparity with females finishing majors in programs of science and technology when compared with their male counterparts. The committee plans to zero in on these groups to move those graduation rates higher.

            UConn is also undertaking a major initiative in online education to help accelerate degree completion. Online education has taken off in the last five to 10 years and, UConn plans to increase its online offerings. UConn officials want students to have more accessibility to classes. Those who can’t take a class on campus won’t have to take a break or drop out because “many students prefer to take a course or two online” Locust said. Online expansion will help in closing the achievement gaps.

             Herbst has been praised for restructuring UConn’s 18-to-1 student faculty ratio by pursuing a 15-to-1 ratio. In the Hartford Courant, Herbst said UConn stands alone in adding faculty when most peer universities have had to lay theirs off. The hiring of 300 new faculties from private universities such as Duke and well respected public research universities has resulted in raised tuition. But is predicted to help students because it will stabilize the student body for the next couple of years.

            “There will be more people who can mentor and serve as advisors and that will make a tremendous difference,” said Locust.

            Students also agree that getting into classes is a common problem that can derail your plans.

            “When classes get filled up and you need that class, you’re either forced to take it next semester or rearrange all of your other classes just to lose those,” said UConn student Nicole Raymond.

            The faculty increase is meant to remedy the situation.

            “We want to increase the number of courses offered so that our students never have to wait to take a course. We want our students graduating on time,” Herbst told the Hartford Courant.

            UConn is also expanding its summer program, which will provide more opportunities for students to graduate on time. There are 14 new courses alone this year. In order to make living on campus more convenient and affordable, UConn is charging half price for a room.

            An advisor is a valuable asset in ensuring students will graduate on time. Students need guidance for laying out a framework for their program of study. This idea is reinforced by Mansour Ndiaye, Assistant Director of Academic Services.

            “We want students to hit the ground running this is done by them connecting with their advisor early,” Ndiaye said.

            The university is encouraging students to utilize its tutoring centers “There are resources out there the whole idea is anything we can do to help students succeed is top priority” said UConn interim spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz.

            Changing majors can delay graduation, as can problems at home. “The natural evolution of students deciding upon a major is a big reason that many students don’t graduate on time,” said Locust.

            Other problems include not finishing prerequisites or required classes, receiving an incomplete, failing a class repeatedly, and depleted funds.

             UConn is taking steps to help more students “We want students to have a good experience and adhere to the standard of having that experience in a four-year period,” Locust said.

 

 

 

 

 

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