A goal met: More UNC System students are graduating within 5 years than ever before
More students are graduating from UNC System universities within five years than ever before, and the upward progress is expected to continue.
The 5-year graduation rate across the UNC System hit 71% in 2018 after a steady increase over the past five years, according to new data presented at the UNC Board of Governors meeting Thursday. By hitting that number, the system exceeded the goal it set for 2022 in its strategic plan.
The graduation rate improved by one percentage point each year over five years, which Andrew Kelly, UNC System senior vice president for strategy and policy, said was an aggressive goal.
“We felt ambitious taking it on, and we’ve been really pleased to see how quickly we’ve made these improvements,” Kelly said. “It’s to the betterment of the students that attend our institutions and the state.”
Improved advising on campus
Kelly said individual universities’ efforts to improve academic advising, enroll more transfer students and set new admissions requirements helped the system hit its goal.
Academic advising helps students figure out what they should major in, the classes they need to take and the shortest path to their degree. The system prioritized enrolling transfer students and making sure they get credit for the classes they took, particularly at community colleges across the state.
Kelly said the admissions requirements that were made in the period preceding these graduation rate numbers were also key by setting a standard for high school students so they are coming to college more prepared, which adds to their success.
“We don’t show any signs of slowing down,” Kelly said. “We’re really optimistic that the number will continue to go up in the years to come.”
Kelly said individual schools are reviewing the graduation rate data for their own universities. The breakdown of each campus should be available in March.
Making higher education more accessible
The priorities of the UNC System’s strategic plan, which the UNC Board of Governors approved in 2017, are to make higher education more accessible and improve student success.
The system announced Thursday that it has already met or exceeded 10 of its 12 annual targets on the strategic plan’s goals set for 2022. Some of the highlights are improving low-income enrollment, awarding critical workforce degrees, increasing research productivity and closing gaps in undergraduate degree efficiency among rural and minority students.
By earning their degrees more efficiently, students are saving money and entering the workforce sooner. The UNC System is also serving more students from low-income backgrounds and rural North Carolina counties than it ever has, showing its commitment to keeping universities affordable and accessible. And the system surpassed $1.5 billion in sponsored research, which “drives statewide innovation and improvements in health and well-being,” according to the system. The scope of the research continues to grow.
The system is still working toward its goals for low-income completions and rural enrollment.
“The UNC System is providing life-transforming opportunities to North Carolinians who stand to benefit most from the earning potential that comes with a college degree,” interim UNC System President Bill Roper said in a statement. “We’ve made important strides in increasing access and success. At the same time, we know there’s more work ahead to ensure that higher education is available to all students.”
Students, parents, educators, lawmakers and the public can view the UNC System’s strategic plan and its progress online.
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 3:51 PM with the headline "A goal met: More UNC System students are graduating within 5 years than ever before."
