An initiative aimed at increasing the graduation rates of under-represented students at the nation’s largest university system has critics concerned some provisions will dilute quality education and exacerbate existing gaps.
The California State University Board of Trustees on Wednesday unveiled the plan, part of the national Access to Success project, aimed at cutting by half the gap in the college-going and graduation rates of low-income and minority with that of Whites by 2016. CSU also wants to increase degree attainment by 8 percent overall, officials said. However, it remains to be seen how the state will implement goals with a strained budget.
All 23 campuses will be tasked with devising a strategy for their individual institutions to raise the six-year graduation rate from 46 percent to the national average of 54 percent. The goal is to graduate 7,000 to 8,000 more students each year, CSU Chancellor Dr. Charles Reed told the Los Angeles Times.
CSU faculty and staff praised the goals but cautioned that excluding them from the process may result in misguided methods.
“I will confess that we’re surprised there has been no conversation with faculty, student and support personnel about what would help students graduate in a more timely fashion,” said Dr. Lillian Taiz, president of the California Faculty Association. “The truth is that people on the ground know the problem and the solutions from our daily interactions with students. We know two issues account for most of the difficulties students are having in graduating.”
Taiz, a history professor at Cal State, Los Angeles, said the availability of classes and financial concerns are the primary obstacles to degree completion.
“For years now, students have made presentations to the Board of Trustees about how (fee) increases … often force them to either seek out paid employment, which is not healthy for their studies, or to drop out all together.”
