TCNJ

Special Section: R. BARBARA GITENSTEIN RETROSPECTIVE FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATES 1999 2016 EOF All Graduates 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 21 58 69 76 SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATES 2006 2017 African-American students White students 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 57 86 75 88 In 1999, TCNJ enjoyed a six-year graduation rate of 78 percent, which, when compared to other institutions, was relatively strong. "We could have rested on our laurels," said Gitenstein. "But instead, we said that's not good enough. Let's stop talking about six years and focus on four years. at's how long families expect a baccalaureate degree to take. at's what we need to deliver." e academic transformation and emphasis on high-impact learning practices helped the college's four-year rate climb from 64 percent in 2004, just prior to full implementation, to 71 percent in 2008. But Gitenstein recognized that not all students were succeeding at that rate. A 2010 report by the Education Trust ranked TCNJ fifth on its list of public colleges and universities for having the highest gap between the overall graduation rates of white students and that of African-American students. e study showed a difference of almost 30 percent between 2006 and 2008. In early 2012, Gitenstein created an integrated Division of Enrollment Management to provide students with a seamless support network across the arc of their college experience. From admissions and the transition to campus through to graduation, it was focused on providing the kind of support that leads to academic success and persistence through the program. rough the new division, TCNJ invested in the Center for Student Success Services (CSSS), which offered one-on-one academic coaching. An intrusive advising model was implemented, requiring students to get approval from faculty advisers before registering for, or withdrawing from, classes. New workshops taught skills to help with success outside the classroom, and students' progress through the program was monitored closely. In 2013, the college revamped its Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program for educationally and economically disadvantaged students. In addition to the initiatives piloted by CSSS, EOF lengthened and strengthened its precollege summer orientation program. e results have been striking. e gap that was reflected in the Education Trust study has narrowed significantly, with the six-year graduation rate for African-Americans jumping from 57 percent in 2006 to 75 percent in 2017. e four-year graduation rate for EOF students jumped from 54 percent for the cohort graduating in 2013 to 69 percent in 2016, just seven points below the rate for the class as a whole. True to form, Gitenstein takes pride in the progress, while arguing that we still must do better. "One of the things that I strongly believe in and I've been very proud of the institution is that we challenge ourselves; we try not to be complacent," she says. 2. IMPROVING FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATES

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