UW System students are graduating with fewer credits and at higher rates, according to a report that will be presented at Thursday's Board of Regents meeting. The report also outlines higher retention rates.
While the UW System has reduced the average credits-to-degree from 145 in 1994-'95 to 136 in 2001-'02, UW-Madison has done even better. In the 2001-'02 year, the average credits-to-degree was just 125, down from 135 the previous academic year.
\All of the institutions have in fact made progress,"" said John Torphy, vice chancellor of administration at UW-Madison. ""What is different is that Madison starts with a smaller number of credits-to-degree and a lot of that is due to the fact that students bring advanced placement credits here probably more than they do at other campuses. In general there are more full-time students here than there are at some other campuses. You also have a situation where the array of liberal arts programs, which have 120 credit degrees, are greater in number than in other places.""
Torphy said requirement changes to high-credit programs like engineering have also played a role in reducing the overall credits-to-degree at UW-Madison by more than 5 percent in the past six years.
""We have made bigger and greater accomplishments than some other places have in trying to address what the region's concern was,"" Torphy said. ""We have made a concentrated effort in some places like engineering and others where they have actually tried to look at the credit requirements and in some ways reduce the credit requirements. I think we have done a good job in doing that.""
Second-year retention rates have also met or exceeded goals for both the UW System, with 79.5 percent, and UW-Madison, with 91.9 percent.
""The data of UW-Madison is very strong,"" said Frank Goldberg, associate vice president of policy analysis and research for the UW System, who will present the report's findings to the board.
The report also touts the UW System's 61.9 percent graduation rate, which is the highest ever. The university is on track to meet its target of 64 percent by 2004.
UW-Madison boasts a 78.2 percent graduation rate, slightly ahead of a 78 percent goal.
These significant improvements in both the student retention rate and the graduation rate across the UW System are due to various strategies that differ with each UW System school, Torphy said.
Paul Barrows, vice chancellor of student affairs at UW-Madison, said the administration has worked hard to provide stronger first-year student services to improve retention.
""Residential learning communities, first year interest groups, undergraduate research scholars--all of these programs have helped connect students closer with faculty and these programs have been proven nationally to impact retention in a positive way,"" Barrows said.
The regents will also consider adopting a measure to control students from taking excess credits. Students would incur a surcharge if they take more than 165 credits or 30 credits more than their degree requires.
