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SJSU graduation rates disappoint accreditors
Minority graduation rates 'one of the lowest'
Leah Bigelow
Issue date: 9/18/07 Section: News
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Graduation rates for black and Latino males at San Jose State University are "truly dismaying," said Ralph A. Wolff, Western Association of Schools and Colleges Committee president and executive director, in a July 6 letter to President Don W. Kassing.
Wolff's statement was in response to SJSU's Educational Effectiveness Report, which was sent to the committee and outlined educational goals for the campus. According to the report, "all students have true and equitable opportunities to succeed and excel."
But according to the committee's response to the report, this ideal has not yet been achieved.
The committee team that reviewed SJSU after the initial report was issued found a "disappointing" graduation rate of 38.1 percent for all students at the university, according to Wolff.
As for minorities, Wolff wrote, "While six-year graduation rates at the University are disappointing, the rates for African-American and Latino males are truly dismaying."
President Kassing said, that in response to the committee's report, the administration has created the Inclusive Excellence Master Plan, which will analyze performance issues within ethnic groups.
"I think it's unfortunate that it's happening," said Alba Cardenas, a junior Spanish and photography major, referring to the low percentage of minorities who are graduating at the university-accepted rate of six years.
Rona Halualani, SJSU's director of institutional planning and inclusive excellence, said she was personally appointed by Kassing to take on the task of achieving inclusive excellence at the university.
"Overall, in the CSU system, we have one of the lowest graduation rates for African-Americans and Latinos," Halualani said.
She explained that it is her job to research programs at other universities and eventually create one that will improve minority graduation rates at SJSU.
Currently there are some programs on campus that are specifically intended for minorities, Halualani said, including the Educational Opportunity Program and the McNair Scholars Program.
Wolff's statement was in response to SJSU's Educational Effectiveness Report, which was sent to the committee and outlined educational goals for the campus. According to the report, "all students have true and equitable opportunities to succeed and excel."
But according to the committee's response to the report, this ideal has not yet been achieved.
The committee team that reviewed SJSU after the initial report was issued found a "disappointing" graduation rate of 38.1 percent for all students at the university, according to Wolff.
As for minorities, Wolff wrote, "While six-year graduation rates at the University are disappointing, the rates for African-American and Latino males are truly dismaying."
President Kassing said, that in response to the committee's report, the administration has created the Inclusive Excellence Master Plan, which will analyze performance issues within ethnic groups.
"I think it's unfortunate that it's happening," said Alba Cardenas, a junior Spanish and photography major, referring to the low percentage of minorities who are graduating at the university-accepted rate of six years.
Rona Halualani, SJSU's director of institutional planning and inclusive excellence, said she was personally appointed by Kassing to take on the task of achieving inclusive excellence at the university.
"Overall, in the CSU system, we have one of the lowest graduation rates for African-Americans and Latinos," Halualani said.
She explained that it is her job to research programs at other universities and eventually create one that will improve minority graduation rates at SJSU.
Currently there are some programs on campus that are specifically intended for minorities, Halualani said, including the Educational Opportunity Program and the McNair Scholars Program.
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