Tag: College Completion Strategies

Analysis Of 13 Projects To Increase College Completion

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)  published:

A Guide to Major U.S. College Completion Initiatives

While the United States has focused on improving access to higher education, many other nations have made steady progress over recent decades in increasing educational attainment. As a result, the U.S. has slipped to 15th place in the proportion of younger workers (ages 25-34) who hold a postsecondary degree or certificate; this is a threat to the nation’s global competitiveness.

Spurred by President Obama’s goal to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020, a large number of organizations (funded by major foundations) have recently adopted a “college completion agenda” and have undertaken a wide variety of initiatives to boost college completion. This paper provides background information on the topic and summarizes 13 major college completion projects. The origins for each completion initiative are briefly discussed, as are the associated funding partners, key goals and objectives, accomplishments achieved and time frame for future plans.

Authored by Alene Russell, Senior State Policy Consultant

Boston Area Colleges Join To Increase College Completion

Massachusetts colleges organize to improve attrition rates
In response to a study indicating that the majority of Boston area high school graduates who go on to start college do not graduate, 25 Massachusetts colleges and universities have formed a consortium dedicated to improving graduation rates with initiatives including scholarships and free summer sessions to ease the transition into college life.
boston.com

Another Article On How Too Much Chioce Of Courses And Programs Hinders College Completion

  The best book on this topic is by James Rosenbaum et.al After Admission, but here is the second article in a week from an additional perspective.

Can Better “Choice Architecture” Improve College Completion Rates?
by Judith Scott-Clayton
Many factors contribute to high college dropout rates, including poor academic preparation and insufficient financial supports. One potentially contributing factor, however, has received far less attention: that students may be overwhelmed by the very flexibility and choice that are the hallmarks of U.S. higher education. This commentary describes how choice overload can lead to mistakes, procrastination, and dissatisfaction as students attempt to navigate their way through college, and discusses potential solutions. Source Teachers College Record

Colleges Try To Increase Graduation Rates By Bringing Back Former Students

Bringing Adults Back to College: Designing and Implementing a Statewide Concierge Model
This brief details efforts by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and their work with six states – Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and South Dakota – to identify students who have earned a substantial amount of college credits but have not returned to complete their degree.