An effort to boost the graduation rate at the University of South Florida is paying off. The university has seen double-digit gains in the number of students who are graduating in four and six years.
- Rate of students graduating in four years has doubled
- Rate of six-year graduations up from 48 percent to 67 percent
- USF credits outreach efforts, data system tracking struggling students
The university attributed the increases to a new outreach effort and data system that helps track struggling students.
“I’m just thrilled that we’ve been able to do this,” said Paul Dosal, Vice President of Student Affairs and Student Success.
In 2009, 27 percent of students graduated USF in four years. By 2016, the graduation rate has climbed to 54 percent.
Six-year graduation rates also increased during the same period. In 2009, 48 percent of USF students received their diplomas in six years. By 2016, 67 percent of USF students were completing their degree programs in six years.
“We actually have people hired specifically to manage these cases and they watch the student list and they triage those lists and they get the right people to reach out at the right time,” Dosal said. “That has a tremendous impact on our student performance over the last year.”
USF senior Eliana Lozano worried she may not graduate after she switched her major this past school year. Each week, her adviser called to help guide her through any challenges.
Lozano will receive her diploma Friday. She said the one-on-one attention really helped.
“It was good to have the support of the office and help me graduate on time,” Lozano said.