Graduation Rates: Whose
Success Do They Measure?
Diana Natalicio, President
The University of Texas at El Paso
May 2008
What Is The Mission Of
Regional Public Universities?
• To provide opportunities for all talented and motivated
students in a region, especially those whose access to
higher education has traditionally been limited, to pursue
their educational aspirations.
• To educate a high-quality workforce to meet regional,
state and national needs, especially in key fields.
• To contribute to the economic development and quality
of life of the region through the creation and application
of knowledge.
Fulfilling that Mission at UTEP, 1985-2007
Total Enrollment
Total Degrees
3500
25,000
3000
Degrees Awarded
Enrollment
20,000
15,000
10,000
2500
2000
1500
1000
5,000
500
0
Years
Total Enrollment
Years
20
07
20
05
20
03
20
01
19
99
19
97
19
95
19
93
19
91
19
89
19
87
19
85
20
07
20
05
20
03
20
01
19
99
19
97
19
95
19
93
19
91
19
89
19
87
19
85
0
Total Degrees
UTEP provides opportunity for and educates thousands of
students who contribute to the workforce and quality of life
of the El Paso region.
223
0
Multidisciplinary
Studies
268
Health
Professions /
Nursing
100
600
Science
382
Leadership
Studies/Public
Administration
200
124
Liberal Arts
300
Engineering
600
Education
400
Business
Administration
UTEP awarded 3,171 degrees in 2006-07
800
700
93
264
500
76
Graduate
65
Undergraduate
93
427
305
189
62
So, what’s the issue?
UTEP ranks 3rd among all universities in the U.S. in
the total number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to
Hispanics,
and 5th nationally in the number of master’s degrees
awarded to Hispanics.
BUT UTEP’s graduation rates are reported to be low
(e.g., Tier 4 range in US News).
WHY?
Because 70% of UTEP’s graduates are not
counted in the calculation of graduation rates.
So, who is counted in
calculating graduation rates?
Only a student who is
 First-time freshman
 Enrolled Full-time
 Seeking a Degree
 Enrolled in the fall semester
= “FTFTF’”
And, who graduates from the
same university 4, 5, or 6
years later
Not counted are
 Transfer students
 Part-time students
 Returning students
 Those who enroll in
spring semester
How are Graduation Rates Calculated?
# of those same FTFTF students who
graduate 4 or 5 or 6 years later
from the same university
= Graduation
Rate
# of FTFTF students
entering in a given year
“EXPRESS TRAIN” UNIVERSITY
Are all these entering students counted?
Yes, because they are all FTFTF’s!
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Class of 2010
“FTFTF’s”
Class of 2010
“COMMUTER TRAIN” UNIVERSITY
Are all these entering students counted?
No, only those who are FTFTF’s!
Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3 Semester 4…
Semester 8-12…
The Lost Origins of Graduation Rates
• Established in 1992 by the NCAA to monitor the
academic performance of student-athletes.
• Later adopted by U.S. Department of Education as a
measure of academic performance of all students,
despite its obvious mismatch with the enrollment patterns
of large numbers of today’s university students.
• Has become one of the “gold standards” by which all
institutions are measured.
Graduation Rates Mislead Us All
• Ignore large numbers of
students
• Reinforce an outdated
profile of students and the
universities that serve them
• Understate the success of
all universities, especially
large public universities in
urban settings
• Foster a widespread false
perception that universities
are poor public investments
The Solution: Align Metrics with Texas’
“Closing the Gaps” Goals
• Closing the Gaps in Participation
• Total enrollment growth
• Growth in enrollment of underrepresented groups -- Hispanic,
Black, at-risk students
• Closing the Gaps in Success
• Growth in total degrees awarded
• Growth in degrees awarded to underrepresented groups -Hispanic, Black, at-risk students
• Growth in degrees awarded in high-priority areas -- engineering,
math, physical science and computer science
• Growth in degrees awarded in high-priority professions -- nurses,
allied health professionals and teachers
For more information…
Diana Natalicio, President
The University of Texas at El Paso
(915) 747-5555
[email protected]