Cryan: Kean Univ. Teaching Lesson Other Colleges Should Heed

 CRYAN: KEAN UNIVERSITY TEACHING LESSON
OTHER COLLEGES SHOULD HEED
University Looks to Refocus Resources To Improve Graduation Rate

(UNION) - In response to a report in today's Star-Ledger that Kean University is eyeing a longer academic week as a means of increasing the school's four-year graduation rate and holding down a tuition increase, Assemblyman Joseph Cryan said university officials should be applauded for refocusing on ensuring students earn their degrees.

Cryan, a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, blasted state public college and university officials at a recent hearing for tolerating a system that, on average, graduates roughly 37 percent of students within four years.

"It's refreshing to see Kean University arrive at the realization that instead of blaming Trenton for its shortcomings it needs to look within and refocus on its core mission of educating and graduating students," said Cryan (D-Union). "Finally, a university in New Jersey is taking its ultimate responsibility to its students seriously."

According to the Star-Ledger, Kean University officials are considering lengthening the academic week to six days from the current four. University leaders said one of the reasons for the longer week would be to offer more classes so more students could graduate in a timely fashion; currently, only 15.7 percent Kean's students graduate in four years.

Officials said the change - by ensuring a more efficient use of school space -  also could limit tuition increases next year to approximately eight percent. Without the new schedule, students would face a 17 to 24 percent tuition hike.

"Kean is proving how a little creativity and outside-of-the-box thinking can benefit students and make a school operate more efficiently," said Cryan. "This may not be a universal solution to every problem facing our higher education system, but it shows Kean is willing to take control of its own destiny. Now, other schools need to follow suit."

Cryan noted that in testimony before the Assembly Budget Committee, state Higher Education Commission Executive Director Jane Oates said approximately 90 percent of in-state students receive financial aid. However, little more than 50 percent of those students go on to graduate - meaning that roughly 45 percent of students leave college with debt, but no degree.

Four-year graduation rates at the state's other public colleges and universities are:

• New Jersey City University, 7 percent;
• Montclair State University, 26.5 percent;
• Ramapo College, 44.3 percent;
• Rowan University, 42.2 percent;
• Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, 40.7 percent;
• The College of New Jersey, 66.2 percent;
• William Paterson University, 16.2 percent;
• Rutgers-Camden, 24.6 percent;
• Rutgers-Newark, 25.8 percent;
• Rutgers-New Brunswick, 47.2 percent;
• New Jersey Institute of Technology, 18.7 percent.

"For far too long, New Jersey's public colleges and universities have defended graduation rates that are morally indefensible," said Cryan. "Each of our public colleges and universities needs to follow Kean's lead and realize that their problems do not all stem from the state budget. Instead of wasting time finger-pointing, our schools need to take a good, long look in the mirror and make changes from within that can ensure their students get the education and degree that will make a difference in the global economy."

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