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ASU students need more than four years to graduate


At ASU about one in four students, 26 percent, are graduating in four years.

ASU vice president and provost Milton Glick said one of the top priorities of the University is to increase graduation rates.

"This is not what we want to see," Glick said in reference to the low number of students graduating in four years.

Glick added that over the years it has become increasingly clear that college is no longer dominated by students who are fresh out of high school, committed to getting through college in four years.

"We have students that stop in and stop out," Glick said.

Glick also attributed ASU's low four-year graduation rate to a very diverse student body population, which includes commuter students, as well as part- and full-time workers.

Vice president of student affairs, Christine Wilkinson, said it's not that ASU students aren't graduating, but with students working and even parenting, achieving graduation takes a little more time.

Glick said although the University's four-year graduation rate appeared low, the rate is still at a five-year high, up from 14 percent.

"It's not where we want to be, but it's definitely an improvement," Glick said.

He acknowledged the current academic advising system is something the administration is "worried about."

According to the director of student services at the College of Public Programs, Cheryl Herrera, the University graduation requirements can be complicated.

"We need more academic advising staff," said Herrera about the importance of advising.

Mary Cook, an academic adviser in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, said with only three advisers in charge of over 1,600 Cronkite students, work tends to become overwhelming.

"We realize it's hard to get in to see us," said Cook about the fact that her students have to wait two weeks to see her.

According to Cook, many advisers, in order to keep up with work, are forced to work overtime.

"We often work from home, answering e-mails," Cook said. "Some advisers even have to come in on the weekend to keep up."

Milton Glick said ASU is aware of the advising problems, but that the situation was not at the top of the University's list and right now the University's primary priority is increasing faculty salaries up to market value.

Herrera, who is doing her dissertation on retention and graduation rate, said the numbers graduating is very complex and has many components.

"Researchers have been looking into [the graduation rate] since the 1920s," Herrera said.

According to Herrera, one among many of factors involved in graduation rates is whether a student feels the college they attend truly cares about their success.

"I think ASU is wonderful," Herrera said. "There are ways to make things better."

Reach the reporter at matthew.garcia3@asu.edu.


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