Timely graduation is a key component of student success. In spring of 2005, a task force was assembled to explore why KU's undergraduate graduation rates were lower than those at similar institutions.

Below is a summary of the key findings from the work of the Graduate in Four (GIF) task force, including background information, guiding principles, specific recommendations, and resulting actions. For additional details, a link to the complete report is provided below. A link is also available for slides from a presentation at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) on the GIF Task Force findings.

• Cultural context includes inconsistent messages about the importance of timely graduation and the costs of additional semesters.
• Some typical student behaviors are counterproductive, such as enrolling in fewer than 15 credit hours each semester.
• Specific courses consistently have lower successful completion rates, particularly remedial math.
• Some institutional practices and policies enable delays in time to graduation.

Guiding principles and associated recommendations developed to address barriers

• Principle 1: KU expects and encourages timely graduation. Practices need to reinforce this principle.
• Reinforce a minimum enrollment of 15 credit hours each semester for full-time undergraduates.
• Establish guidelines for students to declare majors by 60 hours.
• Principle 2: Policies and practices should encourage timely graduation.
• Develop standardized institutional policies for drops and withdrawals.
• Limit the number of repeat applications to professional schools.
• Principle 3: Communicate a consistent message that graduation in four years is desirable and attainable.
• Align advising philosophy and practices with graduation goals.
• Support timely graduation goals through university publications, presentations, and other communications.

Resulting accomplishments and actions based on recommendations

• The average course load for first-time, full-time students increased between Spring 2005 and Spring 2006.
• Conversations with advisors and other front-line staff about importance of timely graduation are ongoing.
• A task force was formed in Spring 2006 to examine higher admissions standards.
• Newly admitted students with math ACT score below threshold are strongly advised to take remedial math prior to enrolling at KU
• Changes to tighten drop/withdrawal policies were approved by University Governance for Fall 2006.