REXBURG, Idaho
Bold action being taken to reform higher education can
affect Idaho, as new collaborations among education leaders hope to increase
college graduation rates.
The National Commission on Higher Education Attainment, a
committee board of Presidents from six universities formed under the Obama administration,
released an open letter Jan. 23 to college and University leaders urging
change. Proposals attempt to increase
college retention and attainment rates, with ideas such as midnight classes,
more online classes, credit for previous learning through standardized exams,
and easier credit transfers for students.
Currently, nationwide trends reveal a chasm between students enrolled in
higher education and timely graduation. According The New York Times, “Almost half of the students who begin college at a two-or four-year institution fail to earn a degree within six years.”
This trend is mirrored in the Idaho education system, which has the third lowest college graduation rates in the country. Currently, 14% of students are graduating in four years from Idaho public secondary institutions, and 37.8% graduating in six years, according to The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.
BYU-Idaho fares slightly better but still below national average with 25.1% of students graduating within four years, and 55.1% graduating within six years. The reality that it may not be possible to graduate on-time is aware by many BYU-Idaho students.
“Yes… I want to graduate in four years, but I don’t know if I will be able to,” said Maegan Barnes, a freshman studying web development.
Andrew Woodhouse, a senior majoring in music with an emphasis in vocal performance said, “I just changed my major, so I will be here a long time. I will be a super super senior.”
Increased tuition costs, transferring schools, the effects of the recession and a changing college demographic all play a role in the graduation rates.
Efforts to make it easier to graduate on time are not just a national trend but occur at BYU-Idaho as well. Travis Yost, the BYU-Idaho Transfer Evaluation Coordinator posted an evaluation this week to all transfer students hoping to improve the transfer experience. BYU-Idaho also has plans to offer 20% more of classes online as part of the University’s “Online Learning Initiative.”
Aware of the challenges facing state higher education, The Idaho State Board of Education is making changes as well. Partnering last year October with K-12 schools, government officials and business leaders, The Idaho State Board of Education was able to discuss how to make college completion a higher priority. Idaho is currently one of the 31 members of the Complete College America Alliance of States, with the goal of finding, developing and adopting new strategies to help educate and graduate Americans.
Presently the State Board of Education has a goal of 60 percent; 60 percent of students studying at Idaho colleges between the ages of 25 and 34 should receive a postsecondary degree by 2020.
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