Students take more than four years to finish degrees
Data suggests that graduating from college within four years is atypical
Makoto Yamagishi
Issue date: 9/14/05 Section: News
Gilbert said Western accepts a lot of students with different majors whose educational programs enable students to stay in college over four years, unlike some other private universities with highly selective liberal arts programs.
"We are much more likely to have students who are not committed to their educational programs in the sense of they are more experimental with what they are motivated. There is no significant economic penalty. Four-year graduation is generally only series of highly selective liberal arts colleges. It's very homogeneous," Gilbert said.
In an effort to help students graduate on time, Western offers a Grad Trac program for the new first-time freshmen so they can complete their four-year programs as scheduled upon some conditions.
The university exempts the tuition for additional semesters if one cannot finish the programs within four years because of canceled classes or any inconveniences. However, students must maintain a certain minimum GPA, not alter their majors or minors, and register for classes on time, among other things, are the qualifications.
Alan Deroos, Western Registrar, said the Grad Trac is the mutual system between the university and the students.
"Grad Trac is a guaranteed program we offer to students. It's a contract between the university and the students that university will supply the courses the students need to graduate in eight semesters. Around 1,000 students are eligible (for the Grad Trac) right now," Deroos said.
Deroos added that approximately 50 departments offer Grad Trac programs at Western and the Grad Trac makes it possible for students majoring in many fields to finish their program faster with fewer problems. However, he said only a small number of Western students meet this standard because of major changes or some unexpected personal matters.
"We are much more likely to have students who are not committed to their educational programs in the sense of they are more experimental with what they are motivated. There is no significant economic penalty. Four-year graduation is generally only series of highly selective liberal arts colleges. It's very homogeneous," Gilbert said.
In an effort to help students graduate on time, Western offers a Grad Trac program for the new first-time freshmen so they can complete their four-year programs as scheduled upon some conditions.
The university exempts the tuition for additional semesters if one cannot finish the programs within four years because of canceled classes or any inconveniences. However, students must maintain a certain minimum GPA, not alter their majors or minors, and register for classes on time, among other things, are the qualifications.
Alan Deroos, Western Registrar, said the Grad Trac is the mutual system between the university and the students.
"Grad Trac is a guaranteed program we offer to students. It's a contract between the university and the students that university will supply the courses the students need to graduate in eight semesters. Around 1,000 students are eligible (for the Grad Trac) right now," Deroos said.
Deroos added that approximately 50 departments offer Grad Trac programs at Western and the Grad Trac makes it possible for students majoring in many fields to finish their program faster with fewer problems. However, he said only a small number of Western students meet this standard because of major changes or some unexpected personal matters.
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