The U.S. Education Department’s National Center for Education Statistics released a report today showing only a small increase between colleges’ six-year and eight-year graduation rates—just four percentage points for public four-year colleges. The release follows a report last week by The Chronicle showing that graduation rates dropped for one-third of four-year colleges from 2002 to 2008.
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18 Responses to 8-Year Graduation Rates Not Much Higher Than 6-Year Rates, Data Show
andragogytoday - December 17, 2010 at 9:21 am
This rate may reflect the flaw in this measurement. Since graduation rates are based on the “Traditional” undergraduate (first-time, full-time freshmen), it stands to reason that this group is going to graduate within the 100% to 150% timeframe. I think it would be more interesting to track the “typical” undergraduate, once we figure out who that is.
11182967 - December 17, 2010 at 11:08 am
Point well taken, andragogytoday. But there is no longer a “typical” undergraduate. One approach to assessing graduation rates would be to divide undergraduates into several broad categories by age, employment status, gender, ethnicity, etc. in order to generate a set of “on-time” measures for each. But I suspect the cake would be sliced into so many slivers that none would provide much statistical nourishment.
Our real problem is that we continue to assess institutional effectiveness–and that of the “educational system” (now there’s a misnomer)– on the basis of an increasingly anachronistic model based primarily on the attainment of a conventional baccalaureate degree within a defined period of time. This is odd when we also promote “lifelong learning,” re-training, CEUs, professional requirements for continued licensing, post-grad certificates, etc., not to mention all manner of training and education provided by and through employers, the military, and government agencies at various levels–much of this by colleges and universities. Nor is the 6-year model as gold standard very congruent with current varieties of educational delivery.
I suspect that Americans, on the whole, are a lot better educated than the conventional statistics indicate, degrees or not. It would be interesting to figure out ways to test this hypothesis. Disserations, anyone?
badger74 - December 17, 2010 at 11:35 am
With more and more students changing schools for a variety of reasons the graduation rate for the one school where they initially enrolled is only part of the story. Many states now have unified systems where it is easy to change campus without losing credits etc and kids switch for many reasons from academic to social to budget.
electronicmuse - July 21, 2011 at 5:56 am
Scholarly comment on Cialis:
“Every tub on its own bottom.” – Harvard axiom.
“Every bottom on its own tub.” – Electronicmuse.
(But wouldn’t a Jacuzzi be more practical for sex?)
sand6432 - July 21, 2011 at 11:08 am
I think Botz-Bornstein missed a golden opportunity to have an essay on this subject from the Playboy Philosopher, Hugh Hefner himself. How does this octogenarian manage to keep adding to his record of sexual conquests with the assistance of the little blue pills while not having a heart attack in the process? At some point, one would think, the heart will fail even if the penis is still willing!—Sandy Thatcher
dank48 - July 21, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Perhaps the penis mightier than his word?
rameshraghuvanshi - July 23, 2011 at 11:33 am
Every man is unique so his sex life also unique.How one look to sex life it depend on his attitude..Freud also told after age of 50 that he did not need a sex.Modern science telling us that normal sexual life useful for healthy life.Some people enjoy sexual life in extreme old age some retired from sex at the age 60 how can we draw a conclusion for entire humanity
rhgt - July 23, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Men who take Viagra are not in the position of those with diminished libido. Their libido may be very strong, but they are unable to perform. Viagra does nothing to increase libido.
jansand - July 24, 2011 at 4:21 am
As a young man my physiology was adequate but my acceptable targets were rarely complicit. As an 85 year old, whatever potent ammunition a pill may reload in my apparatus it is highly unlikely a target will appear vulnerable to my aims. Better to leave it to reminiscent dreams.
ibivi - July 24, 2011 at 5:09 am
What is the point of a medication that while it gives you an erection which may last for 4 hours it may also make you deaf and blind? This part of their ad makes me roar with laughter.
ibivi - July 24, 2011 at 5:12 am
Oh please! All those young women out there willing to have sex with this rutting 80-year old to get fame is rather sad.
ibivi - July 24, 2011 at 5:14 am
Not if they don’t change the water!
jansand - July 24, 2011 at 10:31 am
If Viagra makes you deaf and blind,an erection is handy if you don’t have a white cane.
Timray - July 24, 2011 at 9:24 pm
i am reminded here of great literature…Much Ado About Nothing
Timray - July 24, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Balzac…Love is blind, it is also deaf and dumb
onagarf - July 25, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Fame, or money?
authentic - July 26, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Viva viagra.
titus - July 27, 2011 at 4:04 am
I can see the practical applications of Viagra, like solving illegal emigration on the southern border by giving it free to prospective emigrants, thus making it difficult for them to crawl under the border fence, but Viagra philosophy?