UNC president visits Washington, D.C, to talk graduation rates

WASHINGTON, D.C. – University of Northern Colorado President Kay Norton was among hundreds of university leaders who visited Washington, D.C. to this week to discuss new initiatives to encourage increased graduation rates.

Norton on Thursday discussed with other university leaders, including Colorado Community College System President Nancy McCallin, as well as President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, ways that universities could help students graduate from college. The White House College Opportunity Day was part of the president’s efforts to partner with colleges and universities, business leaders and nonprofits to support achievement in higher education.

In 2012, the graduate rate for full-time undergraduate students totaled just 59 percent, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

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Participants in this week’s event were asked to commit to new action in one of four areas: graduation rates, college preparation, investing in high school counselors and increasing the number of college graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

Norton discussed the University of Northern Colorado’s pilot program in which advisers can track a student’s progress in science, technology, engineering and math courses. The university looks at students’ performance and suggests tutoring or advising services when students are doing poorly in a subject.

The program represents one of several steps the university has taken to improve students’ performance, Norton said.

“The last thing we want is for anyone to begin higher education, incur debt and then end up without a degree,” she said.