Are you on track for graduation?
So you’re headed to college — or you’re already there. Your higher education is a journey that will help power your ambitions the rest of your life. It’s also a path that includes a significant destination: your diploma.
Here’s a statistic for you: fewer than 40 percent of students who enroll at a four-year college or university actually graduate in four years. For Native American students and their peers from other underrepresented populations, graduation rates are even lower. If you factor in community colleges, more than half of college students leave within six years without a degree. Despite making a huge investment in tuition and other expenses, they ultimately don’t boost their resumes and earning power with that coveted degree.
The good news: there are some straightforward ways you can increase your chances to graduate — and do so in four years — and there are people who want to help.
First, be sure you’re doing the math. Every college has graduation requirements that should guide your course selection. There’s an overall number of credits you need to graduate, which usually includes at least two other requirements for (1) “general education” credits in a variety of subjects and (2) credits in your major field of study. Each school also has academic standards to meet (for example, a minimum GPA), and may have additional graduation rules. A few classic pitfalls that can delay graduation include dropped, failed, or incomplete classes, or a change in majors that requires accumulating a new set of credits. Students can also run into difficulty if they transfer from a community college, but learn too late that their four-year institution won’t accept some of their hard-earned credits.
College counselors tend to caution against prolonged graduation paths. When students stay in school longer, they usually rack up more debt — while also delaying their opportunity to compete for higher-paying jobs after graduation. In addition, studies show that the likelihood of dropping out before earning a degree increases after four years.
On the other hand, there are sometimes “real life” reasons to reduce your course load, including financial pressures, work schedules, or family obligations. There may be adjustments you have to consider at some point in your college career. Whether you’re solidly on the four-year track or extending your graduation timeline, here’s the thing: stay on top of your progress, resolve not to let up, and turn to the resources that are there for you.
“If you realize it may take you more than four years to graduate, it’s important to embrace that as your plan, rather than see it as some sort of failure,” says Professor David Laude, a senior vice provost at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin. “New college students — especially first-generation students and those from underrepresented populations — can sometimes experience a series of closed doors,” observes Laude, who started a program at UT-Austin to improve graduation rates. “Rather than view obstacles as a reason to walk away or lose hope, I encourage students to recognize difficulties and persevere.” Laude points out that every school has dedicated resources for students who need help. “Know where to turn when something disappointing happens, whether it’s a bad grade, a tough living situation, or getting sick before an exam. As you increase the number of doors you feel comfortable walking through, your confidence will build.”
The more of those connections you make, say experts across the board, the better your chances for not only graduating from college, but also doing so in four years. Your options include seeing professors during office hours, joining a study group, talking with an advisor, or joining a network like AISES. As you forge ahead, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Staying on Track to Graduate
- Know your graduation requirements and keep careful track of all credits.
- Stay connected to people who want you to succeed.
- If you have a job, find the right balance with classes and study time.
- If you attend community college, be sure your credits will transfer.
- Ask for help if you need it.
- Apply yourself and build your confidence over time — you are a scholar!
Courtney Souvannasacd, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, is outreach and transition coordinator at University of North Dakota (UND) Student Diversity & Inclusion (SD&I). She has an associate’s degree in business administration from Turtle Mountain Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration in management from UND, and is currently seeking a master’s in educational studies, specializing in population health analytics. Souvannasacd was an AISES member during her undergraduate years and a 2018 AISES National Conference attendee/exhibitor. She continues to collaborate with the UND AISES College Chapter Annual Family Science Night and is a proud AISES groupie. Here she provides information and some tips for students as they make their way through the sometimes confusing college years.
What are some common challenges that might derail students as they pursue a college degree?
As incoming first-time or transfer students transition to their new collegiate environment, settling in can be challenging. One of our goals at SD&I is to provide a welcoming space for students. The University of North Dakota American Indian Center fosters an environment where students can create new support systems that strengthen their existing ones in their home communities.
What recommendations do you have to help students navigate the course credit maze?
Get all the campus advisement information you can:
- Attend orientations. (This is a good start for gathering baseline knowledge of counseling and advisement resources on campus.)
- Meet with your department advisor prior to course registration.
- Schedule a meeting with the campus student success centers to introduce yourself.
- Seek advice from your faculty, and ask questions.
Please describe the “Finish in Four” initiative.
We have been working closely with Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC) in the Spirit Lake Nation on a “Finish in Four” initiative: two years at a tribal college and two years at UND designed to minimize time for student graduation. This initiative is more than a paper agreement — it’s a mechanism to support Native student success and collaboration between tribal college and university departments to create long-lasting partnerships. It was natural to start with UND and the CCCC Social Work Department because we have an existing collaborative relationship. As a result, there was a lot of buy-in at all levels: department chairs, faculty, students, and staff. Everyone has made an investment in the Native students’ success. This experience was amazing, and lessons learned from the process will inform our work moving forward.
What other resources and programs are available to help students graduate on time or with minimal delays?
UND SD&I offers the Cultural Diversity Tuition Waiver (CDTW) to alleviate financial burdens and enable students to focus on their studies. As part of this award, students agree to the following:
- Enroll in 15 credit hours per semester.
- Maintain a 2.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
- Consult with a CDTW advisor twice per semester.
- Consult with an academic advisor once per semester.
- Meet with each class instructor once per semester.
The combination of these requirements acts as a retention and graduation program; the data indicates students involved have higher GPAs, retention, and completion rates.
Are there specific issues transfer students have to deal with that students who remain at the same college from start to finish don’t face?
Transfer students’ primary challenge is successfully moving credits from their prior institution to the new one. Transfer students need to be aware of this, prepare mentally for any loss of credits, and plan proactively to ensure those credits are recouped. In some cases, the students’ department or advisor can advocate for credit acceptance. UND has transfer program agreements with 10 states and maintains a Transfer Evaluation System database to evaluate course equivalences. Advisement tools help us track student progression; UND utilizes a program called Starfish — it’s an efficient way to coordinate support interdepartmentally. Starfish enables staff to quickly troubleshoot student issues and bridge resources to ensure students are on track to graduate. UND transfer requirements can be found here.
Do you have any additional comments or suggestions regarding this topic?
Plan, prepare, and communicate with student support offices. We are here to help.
