Fact Check: In her radio address (after minute 35), President Whitney noted a number of vague concerns about Academic Enrichment, which have led her to decide to cut the department. She said it was “not meeting its expected outcomes,” that “we need to change business, because this isn’t working.” She observed “that unit hasn’t met expectations” and that “the results don’t speak to [Academic Enrichment being effective].” President Whitney’s assertions are vague and undocumented, so difficult to fact check. However, what we do know does not support these conclusions. As we have noted previously, our most recent Middle States Report concluded, “Recognizing its commitment to provide support to both under prepared and other students, the university has an active and comprehensive academic support program...” As of Fall 2013 (the TRIO programs’ most recent data), the second year continuation rate for the 2012 cohort is 76.4%; the six-year graduation rate for the 2007 cohort is 53.8%. Despite the fact that this program served primarily at-risk students, their retention numbers are better than the university rates (most recently reported in 2011), which show a 70.2% second-year return rate and a 47.4% six-year graduation rate. These data seem to indicate that the university should be doing more of what Academic Enrichment does, not less. Further, TRIO grants have ALWAYS been funded entirely by the US Department of Education. In 2012-2013, the TRIO grants are funded entirely by the US Department of Education as follows: Student Support Services, $329,600; Upward Bound, $411,186; and Educational Talent Search, $380,961. The TRIO grants annually generate $72,998 of indirect costs for the University that can be spent on other programming. We don’t know what outcomes President Whitney is referring to, but the TRIO programs seem to be not only meeting, but exceeding expectations.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 17:25:58 +0000
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