California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) may reach a graduation rate milestone this fall. Our tracking currently suggests that 50-52 percent of the freshman cohort that entered in 2002 may graduate by the six-year point that ends with the August graduation deadline. If so, this would be the first time CSULB’s six-year rate has exceeded 50 percent, according to available records.
Additionally, this would represent a doubling from our historic low point, which occurred with the cohort that entered in 1991. During the early 1990s budget crisis, the campus failed to provide needed classes and students stayed away in droves. The campus gained such an unfortunate reputation that high school counselors advised students to go elsewhere.
This experience served as a wake up call. Since then faculty and staff have worked to ensure CSULB is more supportive of student success. The campus developed expertise at managing enrollment and aligning the schedule of classes with student needs. We began guaranteeing freshmen a full schedule of classes and eliminated most bottleneck courses. Freshman programs, such as orientation, mandatory advising, and a freshman seminar, were created or revamped. In addition, “Destination Graduation,” a program in the Academic Advising Center, was developed to assist students in resolving outstanding academic requirements. Since it was created it has helped hundreds of students to graduate.
These efforts have shown success. Freshman graduation rates have risen steadily and the campus can be justly proud of improvement. However, even with our improvement, there is room for more. Compared to all large master’s universities nationally, CSULB remains a bit below average. But compared to large urban universities with a similar percentage of financial aid students, we are just about average. Of course, we aspire to be much better than average.
Our Hispanic Serving Institution grant and a campus chapter of the Student African American Brotherhood, an academic social organization, are among the new efforts that have been launched to increase graduation rates among minority students. Additionally, the new Beach Learning Community, aimed at providing support to high-risk freshman, has resulted in a significant increase in student success.
The campus has established a graduation rate goal for the 2004 cohort: 55 percent. A true “stretch” goal, this will be very difficult for the campus to achieve, especially with budget reductions looming. We will redouble our efforts to continue making progress and reach our goal.