By Katherin Torres
Edgewood College has seen a rise in early graduation rates, resulting in an enrollment decline, according to statistics found on the college’s website.
The numbers show a 5 percent spike in the four-year graduation rate with 38 percent in 2016 and 43 percent in 2017. There are many factors that play into this, officials say.
For example, the college is better developing its students for graduation by combining potential career interests with academic advising. “I think we’re doing a better job of advising students,” said Kari Gribble, director of Edgewood Central.
“Students come in and they know what they want to do so we help them come up with the most expedited way to get to their degree,” she said.
In addition, the college has developed a system that helps students stay on track and graduate in exactly four years if executed correctly.
The advising department has teamed up with the ASCDC (Academic Success and Career Development Center), a resource on campus that plans for students to succeed by exploring their academic and career interests and connecting them with the best resources available.
“We are incorporating career development stuff along with straight up advising, and so I think that allows students to get good information about what they may be good at or what they’re interested in earlier in the process,” said Gribble.
She said the program helps build a timeline that will keep students from taking courses they don’t need and stay on track with 15 credits a semester.
Both an advisor and the ASCDC counselor meet with students three to four times per semester to talk about goals and how they’re going to obtain them. This allows for meaningful conversations about what is or isn’t working and for later making the necessary adjustments.
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