Sept. 28, 2012

VCU among Nation’s Best for Increasing Graduation Rates, Closing Graduation Rate Gaps for Blacks and Hispanics According to The Education Trust

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By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University is listed among the nation’s top institutions of higher learning for boosting graduation rates and closing the graduation rate gap for both black and Hispanic students between 2004 and 2010, according to a pair of reports released by The Education Trust.

The reports, based on a study called “Advancing to Completion,” ranked VCU among the top four public and private institutions nationwide for boosting black and Hispanic student graduation rates and among the top six public and private institutions for closing the graduation rate gap for black and Hispanic students.

“Advancing to Completion: Increasing degree attainment by improving graduation rates and closing gaps for African-American students” found VCU eliminated the gap in graduation rates between black and white students between 2004 and 2010, increasing the graduation rate for black students from 34.5 percent in 2004 to 49.8 percent in 2010, which is about the same rate as white students. The report ranked VCU 16th on the list of “Top 25 Gainers in African-American Student Graduations Rates amount Public Institutions, 2004-2010” and ranked VCU 19th in the “Top 25 Graduation-Rate Gap-Closers among Public Institutions, 2004-2010.”          

The companion report, “Advancing to Completion: Increasing degree attainment by improving graduation rates and closing gaps for Hispanic students” found that VCU increased graduation rates for Hispanic students by more than 20 points, from 25.9 percent in 2004 to 48.7 percent in 2010. VCU ranked ninth on the list of “Top 25 Gainers in Hispanic Student Graduations Rates among Public Institutions, 2004-2010” and ranked 12th on the list of “Top 25 Graduation-Rate Gap-Closers among Public Institutions, 2004-2010.”

Joseph Marolla, vice provost for instruction and student success, credited VCU’s University College, which focuses on a cohesive core curriculum and a centralized support system for incoming freshman, for playing a key role in the improvements.

“That first semester of a new student’s college career is the best predictor of graduation success,” said Marolla. “But the rest of the university is also very dedicated to promoting access and opportunity for all students.”

The Education Trust supports high academic achievement for students from pre-Kindergarten through college and promotes the closure of gaps in opportunity and achievement for low-income and minority students.