Texas Southern Targets Staggeringly Low Graduation Rates
With a mere 3 percent of Texas Southern University students graduating within four years — and less than a quarter earning their degree in a decade — John Rudley knows that people are asking “What’s wrong with this institution?” and “What are they going to do about it?”
Rudley, the TSU president charged with finding a path forward for the college with the state’s worst graduation rate, asks himself those same questions constantly.
“We’re in an industry that has benchmarks,” he said, “and that’s a benchmark I’m not going to support.”
Critics say the staggeringly low graduation ...
Comments (8)
Merryl Redding via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Numbers & statistics don't always tell the whole story. If they are taking greater risks on students who aren't quite prepared, that should be admired....
Tim Collins via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No it should not be admired. Those inadequately prepared students should be woken up to the fact that they are unprepared and guided to a plan that will get them prepared before they spend all that tuition money for nothing. To knowingly admit unprepared students shows a lack of dedication to education, and is a symptom of our educational systems failures
David Huang via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sounds like a lot of public universities in Texas, really. UT isn't much better. I can understand the cultural & economical unpreparedness, but the academic unpreparedness is just...ugh.
Texas Parents Opt Out of State Tests via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The standardized testing industry has been allowed to degrade our Texas public schools to the point where we are now seeing large numbers of ill-prepared students entering universities across Texas.
Tom Berg via Texas Tribune on Facebook
We have always seen large numbers of ill-prepared students entering Texas universities. TSU by virtue of its history has always been open to the least-prepared of all. That does not mean TSU should revel in the false pride of "taking risk." It is actively and expensively failing a substantial portion of its student body while neighboring UofH is moving toward Tier One status with a diverse student population. TSU needs to look at itself without a romanticized spin and decide what its future purpose really is. It may always get money from the Legislature to avoid claims of discrimination and thereby pay the salaries and benefits of those vested in the status quo but it will fail to serve the people of this City and State.
Sonora Hartley via Texas Tribune on Facebook
How horrible that we force feed children the college message then send them there knowing the experience will likely be a failure. We tell them they are college students but once they grasp that they are actually struggling with middle school level courses of course they drop out. The majority (97%?) of young people that must take remedial classes before being allowed to enroll in college level courses should be redirected. It's cruel to do otherwise.
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
As a middle-aged Texan w/a B.A. in Liberal Arts & M.A. in Peace & Justice Studies, retired and baby boomer, frankly, I'd love to tutor, converse, assist students. However, the thought of going through the 'red tape' of merely tutoring, as my great-grandparents would've required.... how can we grandparents help kids online in these 'new universities,' I ask you?
Audrey Fisher via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Random thoughts: Why are these students ill-prepared for the college experience? Could it possibly have something to do with their HS education? What is on their website: why a new football stadium - makes one wonder about the University's priorities. They also talk of the great LAW School - which may well be true, but if the student drop-out rate is high, then the Law School is obviously attracting outside students. Is TX trying to end this University's existence based on graduation rates? Stats in North Dakota that were similar, should we draw parallels?