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Posted on Thu, Dec 17, 2009 : 5:23 p.m.

Eastern Michigan University considers initiatives to address poor retention rate

By Tom Perkins

EMUGRAD121809.JPG

Tracy Gainous celebrates her graduation from Eastern Michigan University earlier this year. The university hopes new initiatives will change its 39 percent graduation rate.

File photo

Unsatisfied with a 39 percent graduation rate, the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents' Faculty Affairs Council is considering four initiatives to improve that rate.

The initiatives are:

• Creating a required seminar course to better engage first-year students.

• Creating a comprehensive early-warning system to provide students with more timely academic feedback.

• Creating a comprehensive guide for all instructors working with first-year students.

• Creating integrated academic probation, financial aid and repeat course policies.

Currently, 39 percent of EMU students graduate within six years, and the FAC formed a committee called the Student Success Council to examine possible measures to remedy the problem.

“The overall goals of these initiatives would decrease the number of students on probation, increase student retention, decrease the amount of time students need to graduate and improve graduation rates,” Lynnette Findley, assistant vice-president of retention and student success, told the FAC in a presentation on the initiatives.

Besides the four initiatives, the committee also proposed creating a multipurpose Web site aimed at student retention, which would include a database for university agencies to track students who are at risk.

The SSC asked for a budget of $535,544 to develop the initiatives, and John Dunn, an English professor on the SSC, pointed out that the cost would be offset by the tuition revenue it would bring through retaining students.

“What that means is if we are able to retain an additional 30 students for several years, we come out with a benefit of $330,000,” he said. “We can show that there is a benefit to the institution that would come from this type of funding.”

The FAC was largely favorable to the presentation.

Mark Higbee, a history and philosophy professor on the FAC, said seminars have proven effective at other universities.

“Certainly if it has the kind of impact on first year success that other schools brag about then we would want to do it,” he said.

The SSC reported that 30 percent of students entering EMU end their first semester on academic probation - at a GPA of 2.0 or below. Members said they believe an early warning system in which instructors provide academic and attendance information to multiple campus agencies could help identify and aid those students.

“This is something that I do believe will benefit all of us faculty who are committed to working with the first year students,” he said.

Retention rates at Western Michigan and Central Michigan universities, which are also Mid-American Conference members, are at 54 and 57 percent respectively.

The University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus graduation rate is at 88 percent while Wayne State's is at 32 percent and Michigan State's is at 74 percent.

Findley said the next step is for the provosts to determine funding levels for each initiative with the chief budget officer.

“This is the first stage of a comprehensive plan addressing student success, and we will be building on these initiatives,” Dunn said. “The problem and challenge we are dealing with is a long term one.”

“The next step would be project planning - I don’t have any problems with these,” Regent Francine Parker said.

Comments

SCIOciopath

Thu, Dec 31, 2009 : 5:09 p.m.

When making comparisons to other Mid-America universities, EMU is severly lacking in one specific area that I believe to be its Achilles Heel... The complete lack of coney islands. Since the closing of Gianni's almost 10 years ago, you have seen a dramatic rise in city crime, mostly perpetuated by the local fraternities that simply have no other place to go. Without this vital local 'hangout', EMU students are forced into Depot Town, where they consume copious amounts of alcohol. This has led to unruly behavior after 2am, including several fires (most notably the Arm-of-Honor house last year and Pinball Pete's recently). Simply put, if you want to retain students, clean up the streets, and stop the Arm-of-Honor fires, we need to re-establish Gianni's Coney Island.

ConcernedLincolnParent

Mon, Dec 28, 2009 : 12:08 p.m.

In response to Captain Magnificent, as a former EMU graduate, there is no evidence linking transfer students to U of M and there being a proposed monorail. There was talk of a monorail, but that had died down in the late 80's due to the first George Bush taking office.

Captain Magnificent

Thu, Dec 24, 2009 : 2:04 a.m.

I bet a good amount transfer to U of M because that school is considering putting in a monorail. Perhaps if EMU started exploring futuristic modes of mass transit they would be able to retain more students.

Lokalisierung

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 3:49 p.m.

"...if I had some more guidance as a 21 year old new graduate student I probably would have had degree in hand 5 years ago." Sorry maybe I misunderstood you. This made it seem that you should have had your degree 5 years ago...as in it took you 5 extra years...which would be an extremely long time. My fault if that was my mistake.

mrk

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 3:13 p.m.

I looked into what I needed to take, took the courses I needed to take, and had everything I needed to graduate... except one thing... a final project. Every advisor said "you can do whatever you want" for the project. Didn't help much. I am taking responsibility for my own mistakes too, and not going back for five years is a big one, but I am also suggesting that there are people like me out there who, with better guidance, could make that graduation rate go way up. Helpful advising is only what is to be expected from a good university -- shouldn't EMU strive to improve their reputation? "A bold statement" is fine... it's a true one. Almost everyone I have talked to in regard to graduation timing... Yes. It is true. I have heard many, many unsolicited stories of frustration from many students. If you, Lokalisierung, are implying that I failed or something and needed five years to pass necessary classes... I had a 4.0. Not cool. I highly value what I learned at EMU and met some highly intelligent and talented students and professors in my time there. It's a good university in so many ways! The administration is doing its students, faculty and self a disservice if they do not turn the school's reputation around, and increasing graduation rates is possibly the most important component of that reputation.

interested

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 2:47 p.m.

I agree with Mrk. I just finished my graduate degree this week. I was on a 'fast pace' taking upwards of three grad classes a semester to try to expedite the process. Due to poor course planning in the department I was in (which is pretty common throughout the university), I had to take a semester off. I nearly had to extend my studies an additional semester due to poor course planning, but because I had a a great adviser, I was able to substitute one class for another. Many other students feel this sort of frustration. Mrk and I are not alone. I also believe the loose admission standards do make it tough for some ill prepared students. I hope these initiatives work, for the sake of the students who are putting their money into their education and for the sake of the university.

Lokalisierung

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 1:36 p.m.

"almost every single person (undergraduates and graduate students) I have talked to has taken far longer than the traditional amount of time to graduate, if they have even gotten there. " wow...that's a bold statement. See I looked into what i needed to take, and took them, and graduated. I mean really, and let's be totally honest here, if you couldn't figure out what courses to take to graduate for an additional "5" years maybe you needed the extra time.

mrk

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 12:38 p.m.

I have experienced both UM and EMU. At UM, I was able to start off in the Engineering college, switch to LS&A after my first year, declare a double major and still graduate in 4 years. I strongly believe this is due in large part to excellent academic advising and clear requirements. At EMU, the graduate program I was in had requirements that basically said "take whatever you want, as long as you take 30 credits in the department and these 2 classes." Well, guess what... I took something like 50 credits and still haven't graduated because I have not completed the final project component... essentially "any professor can be an advisor" and they aren't necessarily trained on how to advise students well. Now it's been several years since I went and I have one credit hanging out there with no degree. There are some great professors at EMU, some good programs and great students, but if they don't lay out achievable requirements to graduate they will never have a high graduation rate. Granted, my mistakes are my own but if I had some more guidance as a 21 year old new graduate student I probably would have had degree in hand 5 years ago. Instead I am ashamed to go back. I'm not the only one -- almost every single person (undergraduates and graduate students) I have talked to has taken far longer than the traditional amount of time to graduate, if they have even gotten there. This is not only due to economic difficulty but also because the university is known for losing paperwork, cancelling classes at the last minute, not offering required classes, fees for everything under the sun... Many people I have talked to firmly believe that EMU doesn't WANT people to graduate in 4 years... because they want to take every last penny possible from these students. I don't know if I believe that (I certainly don't want to), but I can understand the reasons for that attitude. These changes are necessary and I hope things turn around.

An

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 12:11 p.m.

Oh yes, poor lighting. In COB there is a "Graduate Lounge" that I never use because I can't see well enough to read. The lighting isn't much better in the cafe lounge either, or in the classrooms.

A2K

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 11:48 a.m.

EMU's admission standards are too lenient. Also, if you let in students who are not prepared for college, they will fail - couple this with years of an administration where students were the last on the list of concerns, and technology policies from the dark ages: i.e., their OFFICIAL WEBSITE until 2000 or 2001 was created with Claris Works, no AV capabilities in any classrooms newer than 1980s, not enough computers, poor lighting, I could go on. There are some extremely fine instructors and professors at EMU, but I point the blame at years of incompetent management.

Woman in Ypsilanti

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 10:47 a.m.

I was a student at EMU for almost 10 years before I eventually got my diploma. I feel badly that I might have messed up their numbers but I really didnt want to borrow money for my education so I had to go to school part time and work full time. Just because someone isn't done in six years doesnt mean that they arent going to complete their education. I have to wonder if the school's efforts to get people through the system in six years will cause them to avoid doing things to attract non-traditional older students who simply may need to take longer out of necessity?

Tom Perkins

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 9:43 a.m.

Glimmertwin, The FAC is looking into those numbers.

An

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 9:32 a.m.

I am a graduate student at EMU and I am amazed at how many students don't show up for class, even at the graduate level. (Even when it is made clear that attendance is important to the grade, students still don't show up, and I am not talking about the students who also work full time and end up stuck at work with a hot project or on a business trip). Maybe if students came to class, did the homework and partied less, they could graduate? It's not all on EMU that the retention rate is low and the academic probation rate is high. Students need to be better prepared but I am not sure that a "seminar" will do it. Maybe some mentors?

Technojunkie

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 6:56 a.m.

If EMU returned to the admissions standards that they had 20 years ago I'm sure that their graduation rate would skyrocket. They'd also have a much smaller university, which would likely collapse under the weight of EMU's administrative overhead.

glimmertwin

Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 5:41 a.m.

I wonder how many of the 61% move on a graduate elsewhere.