SDSU HONORED AS MODEL FOR IMPROVING GRADUATION RATES

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By Miriam Raftery

January 20, 2014 (San Diego) – The Education Trust has named San Diego State University as a model for improving graduation rates, especially among low-income students and students of color. Over a decade, from 2002 to 2011, graduation rates among Latino students nearly doubled, from 31.4 percent to 58.8 percent. Latino students are now a quarter of all graduates at SDSU.

SDSU was one of eight universities recognized by the Education Trust for its success in improving graduation rates.

SDSU President Elliot Hirshman observed, "This recognition is a tribute to the creativity, dedication and perseverance  of our faculty, staff,  students and administrators."

Kati Haycock, president of The Education Trust, said growth in economic inequality in recent decades shows that simply letting more disadvantaged students in isn’t enough.  “Colleges need to assume their share of responsibility for making sure students have the supports they need to complete,” Haycock noted.

SDSU has committed to closing the achievement gap through a variety of programs aimed at fostering student success and creating culture for students starting as early as elementary school to encourage them to get a college education.

For instance, the Educational Opportunity Program provides help to over 1500 low-income, first generation college students.   Another program, Compact for Success, aims at creating a college-going culture in under-served middle and high schools in our region.  Other programs help new freshmen avoid falling behind and help commuting students find access to study space and services that previously were available only to students who lived on campus.

Other universities recognized by The Education Trust include Florida State University, Georgia State University, University of North Carolina – Greensboro, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, Virginia Commonwealth University and University of Alabama.

Though each university approaches graduation rate challenges in different ways, the report highlighted common elements at all eight universities: deeply and publicly committed campus leadership willing to make student success a high priority and the early and ongoing use of data to identify problems and evaluate solutions.

View the full report online.


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