SUNY looks to UB program as model for increasing grad rates

A feature story in Politico reports on UB’s success in improving graduation rates through programs including Finish in 4. Titled, “SUNY looks to Buffalo program as model for increasing graduation rates,” the article notes that UB’s four-year graduation rate rose from 35 percent in 2005 to 55 percent in 2015. The story quotes UB Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs A. Scott Weber, who discussed some of the efforts behind UB’s success, including adding more sections to classes, bolstering advising and putting in place an early alert system to identify students encountering academic difficulty. The story also quotes SUNY spokeswoman Holly Liapas, who told Politico that Finish in 4 “is one example of programs SUNY is supporting as part of its completion agenda; essentially broadly increasing student supports to not only increase the number of students who successfully complete, but also to improve time to degree, wanting students to finish with the least amount of debt possible.” The article is only available online to subscribers.