Pace Press

Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: News

In explaining the University to others, I like to point out that for more than 100 years the University has been in the business of helping our students transform their lives. That is a deep responsibility, but it is also the source of tremendous pleasure for the faculty and staff. And it is one that all of us embrace. Part of that responsibility is to help you finish what you started.

Why is that important? To put in one or two years of hard work at the University and then to drop out is a terrible waste. Future employers will be looking for a diploma. But there is much more involved. We know that students who seek to finish their degrees more often than not receive high quality academic advising, stay on track academically, build powerful career networks, make long-lasting friendships and make strong connections with faculty and staff members that stand them in good stead for years to come.

Those who consider transferring to another university sometimes find that the time and effort involved in finding a new academic home are substantial, and that the expected benefit is not as great as the benefit of finding a solution to their problems at the University would have been. We want to help you solve those problems.

Of course, some students may need to leave for personal reasons or may change their career plans or views about what is important to them. But our Three-Year Plan provides for personal attention to each student who is considering dropping our or transferring.

The first step is to make sure that applicants have accurate information for deciding to come here. Not long ago, we found students leaving because they could not find programs in pharmacology, fashion design and architecture, none of which we offered.

Our new viewbook and the students who reach out from our new call center to people who inquire about the University are clearing up many such misunderstandings.

We also are increasing ways to make sure prospective students have a good idea of what life and learning at the University will be like. This year we are adding a second Admitted Student Weekend with sample classes and an overnight stay. For those who join the community, this program means better ways to help you cope with problems without leaving.

To help new students forestall minor discouragements, this fall we distributed a pocket-sized "Passport to Success" with useful phone numbers and a "to do list" of things like "pay balance of payment due by deadline." A similar card went out at the end of the first term, and a list of "things to do before you go home" will go out near the end of this term.

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