As of late Longwood University’s graduation rates are steadily on the rise. “Our number of freshman has increased,” said admissions counselor Cartie Prutt, which is clearly one of the main contributions to the recent rise in Longwood’s graduation rates.
According to our Dean of Admissions, Sallie McMullin, “We have an estimated rounded number of 1,103 freshmen this year. Last year we had 1,111 number of freshmen.” The incoming number of transfer students and new spring admissions also affects Longwood’s annual graduation rates. Longwood’s transfer admission counselor, Ashely Woodard, stated, “Transfer students come in with a varying amount of credits. They could possibly finish in two years varying on their major and the college or university that they transferred from.” The wavering possibilities are credits, majors and minors, “those are the main factors, also if they are coming in from highschool, or from another campus, duel enrollment and AP courses can have an effect as well,” said Prutt, admissions counselor.
Dr. Jennifer Green, Associate Vice-President Manager of Student Success defined how incoming students affect graduation rates, “there is an IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) that is the national standard for calculating graduation rates,” said Dr. Green. Entering cohort freshman students are entering college directly from high school, where they have to be full time “are defined as having twelve or more credits,” added Dr. Green. IPEDS trace four, five, and six year graduation rates for students with other life standards, such as family and work. For all institutions of higher education IPEDS will publish rates for four to eight years. In 2005 the four-year rate was 40%, in 2006 and 2007 it increased to 42%. In 2005 the six- year rate was 60%, increasing by 1 – 2 % each year. “The national four year rate for public institutions of higher education is around 23%,” said Dr. Green.
Incoming students are not the only contributing factor to the rise of Longwood’s graduation rates, another is a students’ choice in majors that has an affect on graduation rates as well. There are many factors that contribute to the differences in graduation rates. Many students enter college thinking that they know what they want to major in, and often change their mind in the next few semesters to come. The shift may result in a person graduating in five years instead of four. “It depends on when the change was made and which courses the student has taken up to the point of the change and how those courses apply to the requirements of the new major,” said Dr. Green. How many credit hours a student complete in a given year connects to their graduation rate. SCHEV, the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia, tracks this process, and found at Longwood, if a student completes 24 or more credit hours in their first year, their four year rates are 66%, six year rates raise percentile up to 78%.
However if they complete 60 or more credit hours in their second year the four-year rate is roughly 73%. The students staying for their sixth year percentage is 95% graduation rate. “Based on this it is important to me to help educate students and families that thirty credit hours should be the goal in a year. There can be lots of combinations to achieve that goal,” said Dr. Green.
There are multiple impacts on graduation rates that have the biggest change in demographics. “I think we need to help students plan better for classes,” said Dr. Green. If a student needs to drop out, for whatever reason, “We’ll need to work with the student to help them adjust their degree plan so they see a path to still graduating in a timely manner,” added Dr. Green. Longwood admissions have upgraded their current degree audit tool, Degreeworks, to improve support for students and advisors in order to monitor their degree progress. “[This allows] students to see the classes that they need so that they can talk to their advisors about their plans.”
According to Dr. Green, she believes graduation rates have changed for the better and hopes they will continue to improve. “I think that [graduation rates] will continue to improve. Often times institutions will improve for several years and then plateau, when that happens it is important to re-examine everything to identify new strategies that will help propel us further.”
The graduation rates for our university are on the rise, and the continuation of this trend is something that is incredibly worthwhile to continue working towards.
