Graduation Rates at CSUN
* The Times addressed the important issue of university graduation rates in its Jan. 9 article, “A Long Road to Graduation at Cal State.”
We believe, however, that there was much more of a story to tell about Cal State Northridge, the San Fernando Valley’s public university, than was reported in the article.
For example, contrary to the article’s impression, CSUN students are very much persisting in their studies. More than three-quarters of the freshmen who entered in 1992-’93 had either graduated from CSUN within six years, were still enrolled or had transferred to another California public institution, according to the most recent data.
Also, while the article focused only on graduation rates of students who began here as freshmen, in reality larger numbers of new CSUN students each year are transfers from community colleges. The standard four-year graduation rate for those students in the most recent data reached a 10-year high for the campus.
The graduation rate data for CSUN freshmen reported by The Times probably was negatively impacted by the Northridge earthquake. Because of campus damage at the time, enrollment temporarily dropped by several thousand departing students--ones who otherwise could have stayed to graduate. Fortunately, enrollment since has rebounded to pre-earthquake levels, the campus is nearly complete with its earthquake recovery and we are working hard to give CSUN students their best possible opportunities for academic success. Whether it takes students four years, six years or longer to graduate, CSUN is committed to their success.
PHILIP HANDLER
Interim Provost and
Vice President for
Academic Affairs
Cal State Northridge
* One way in which CSUN is working to increase its graduation rates and lessen students’ time to degree is through our Program for Adult College Education (PACE).
PACE meets the needs of students who cannot attend classes during traditional daytime hours, but still must take a full course load every semester to qualify for financial aid and graduate within about two years after transfer from a community college. One of PACE’s special features is that classes in these degree programs are taught in the evenings and on Saturdays in accelerated eight-week sessions.
I encourage students who might benefit from this special program to contact me at (818) 677-6562 or via e-mail at sheryl.thomp
SHERYL THOMPSON
Director, CSUN PACE
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