By Davon Dean |Staff Writer|
Graduation rates need to improve according to Chancellor Timothy P. White.
While speaking to students, staff and trustees at the State of the University conference, White addressed his developing plans to increase graduation rates throughout the California State University (CSU) campuses.
In a recent press conference with the LA Times, White said the importance of all Americans having a degree, and how it could be easily possible with more state funding.
“The nation’s largest university system could produce an additional 100,000 bachelor’s degree holders by 2025 if it reaches its targets,” said White.
The public policy institute of California in the year of 2025 will need one million more college graduates to meet workforce needs, continued White.
White said he plans to make his strategies successful by raising the current six-year graduation rate from 51 percent to 60 percent, boosting the four-year graduation rate for freshman to 24 percent, increasing the four-year rate for transfer students to 76 percent, and raising the two-year graduation rate for transfers to 35 percent.
The LA Times stated that White isn’t playing around, using strong phrases like “bottom line” to get his point across, also calling for all the executives such as President Obama and Gov. Jerry Brown to support his plans.
“Governor Jerry Brown, among others, are pressing public institutions to improve student success—and to hold them accountable. President Barack Obama has proposed a ratings system that would take into account factors including graduation rates, student debt and post-graduation earnings.”
Brown went further in-depth on the situation stating typically CSU uses a six-year benchmark on rates of graduating.
Moving forward, Brown has dodged providing any additional state funding after already granting $119.5 million in state funding according to his 2015-16 budget. CSU has requested $216 million in state funding which would allow 12,000 to attend CSU universities; 8,500 more students than what Brown’s budget approves.
Students and professors have a different outlook on the situation.
“I feel in this day and age, everyone needs a degree in order to have a somewhat decent living,” said Carol Walker, library service specialist.
CSUSB students are willing to assist White and the CSU trustees in taking the next step to get more individuals to attend CSU campuses.
“I’m first out of seven siblings to attend college and having two siblings younger than myself, I instill the importance of having a college degree. I would hate to see them not able to attend college due to funds running out for CSU campuses,” said student Nana Smith.
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