14 percent: Graduation rates WSSU trail UNC-system average

Less than 50 percent of students attending colleges and universities in the UNC-system graduate "on time" in four years. In fact, the average four-year graduation rate for the UNC-system is 35 percent.

More information about the UNC System can be found at www.northcarolina.edu/ira/ir/analytics/retgrper.htm.

Winston-Salem State's four-year graduation rate is dramatically lower at 14 percent. 

More information on WSSU Graduate rates can be found in the fact sheet at 152.12.30.116/IPAR/aa/Docs/Factbook/FB0809Web.pdf.

Some of the possible causes for the low graduation rates include advisement issues, lack of readiness for college-level courses, transfers, changing majors and financial obligations. 

Provost Brenda Allen said the low graduation rate is attributed to various challenges. 

"Some students are not as prepared when they come to college," Allen said. "Students start out taking developmental courses, which keeps them in school longer than four years."

She also said, "There is a lot of structure at larger institutions. They have more resources [than WSSU] so that students don't have to work while in school."

Allen said that she will research curricula which have "impossible obstacles" and extensive paradigms such as extra courses.  

Allen said the University must start working with students in their first semester to ensure that they are developing skills to be successful in their major. 

"Whether it is academically or financially, there has to be a better way to support them." 

Dr. Jackie Booker, professor of history said the reasons for the low graduation rate can be attributed to students not being prepared to do university-level work, and students who work and go to school. 

"Since academic standards are going up, students coming in who are less prepared must find some way to catch up," Booker said. 

Booker said he thinks an advisement center would help improve the graduation rate. 

"This [an advisement center] would be one place where students could go to get expert advice in their major," Booker said. "The advisers would be trained to give advice on every major."

He also suggested that academic departments focus on the five designated general skills: reading with comprehension, writing, analysis, synthesis, research, and problem-solving.

"We should incorporate more assignments that include these skills," Booker said. "I believe if faculty did this, we would see improvements." 

 Booker said, "Overall, we have to do a better job of educating and graduating our young people. It should be a collective effort. The burden must be shared by everyone, rather than falling on just one group."

Students offer various reasons for not graduating on time. 

Charlie Butler, senior, marketing major from Charlotte, is graduating this month, one semester late. 

"It was my fault," Butler said. 

"My freshman year, I picked a major based on the average salary of that field.  I think students would do better if they didn't have to select a major in their freshman year."

Satira Holiday, elementary education major from Philadelphia, is a junior who knows she will not be able to graduate on time. 

Holiday said because of budget cuts, the education department is unable to offer enough classes, so many students are placed on waiting lists. 

"The problem could be solved by offering more online courses," Holiday said.

Chad Smith, senior, exercise science major from Rocky Mount will not graduate in four years because he transferred from NC A&T. 

"I had 66 credits when I transferred, however, WSSU only accepted 32 of them," Smith said.