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Alaska's ten-year finesse
Those who are familiar with the problems and challenges of higher education today know that one of the most disturbing indicators of this decline is the distressingly high percentage of first-time, full-time students who fail to complete their undergraduate degrees within six years. This has serious ramifications both for the students who take on heavy loan debts, and for taxpayers who potentially shoulder the costs of students who do not finish their degrees. However, ACTA does realize that there are several factors that influence the federal graduation rate -- attending different schools and transferring credits can cause students to have to take an extra semester or even an extra year to graduate.
But the University of Alaska at Anchorage is trying to finesse the real issue by redefining the graduation rate measure to reflect its largely "nontraditional student body," and differences on the question of "what counts as success" -- even to the point of extending the time frame to ten years. While it could be argued that the federal graduation rate measurements could use some clarification, Anchorage's approach obscures rather than tackles this important issue. Whether the blame lies in unprepared students, difficulty in transferring coursework, or a lack of an engaging intellectual atmosphere, it's time for trustees to ensure that students successfully earn their college degrees in a timely manner.
Posted by Sandra E. Czelusniak at October 22, 2008 01:25 PM
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