Our studies have shown that there are
several problems that lead to our graduation rate
dilemma.
- The senior class at BYU is the largest class in
the university. Every senior who doesn’t graduate monopolizes
one spot that could have been filled by a qualified freshman
who could have greatly benefited from an experience at BYU.
- Another contributing factor is that students take
an average of twelve semesters to graduate. To relieve
pressure on the admissions office to admit qualified students,
currently enrolled students must move through the system more
efficiently. Timely graduation, especially more careful
monitoring of student progress, is crucial.
- Another problem we see is that some programs are
physically impossible to complete in four years because they
require so many credits of course work.
- Finally we are finding that students have not
been monitored properly. To be frank, they have gotten lost in
the cracks. Some have intentionally lost themselves because
they want to take advantage of student housing, performing
groups, studio access, campus jobs, Pell grants, and all the
other benefits that come from a university experience. But in
most cases, we have found that impediments to graduation are
not the faults of students, but a result of academic
requirements and the lack of a standard policy on the matter.
To counter these roadblocks, BYU has
proposed a number of different solutions intended to
encourage students to bring about closure to their
university experience. These solutions will be
expanded further in our group presentation, but I
would like to briefly highlight a few now.
- First of all, the administration has asked
every academic program to limit its major requirements to
sixty hours or bear the heavy burden of showing that there
is a compelling reason for an exception.
- In addition, an associate’s degree from a
feeder school with which we have a consortium agreement
will satisfy lower-division general education requirements,
with the exception of the math/language and advanced
writing composition requirements.
- Another proposal suggests that the number of
fall and winter semesters each student is entitled to
consume at our highly subsidized tuition levels may be
limited—probably to ten semesters.
- And the step that will contribute most towards
timely graduation—mandatory advisement concerning
graduation will be required at several key points for all
students. In the past there has been no mandatory
advisement concerning graduation, and we have lost track of
seniors who left without completing their remaining
requirements.