Do you know if you have already accumulated enough units to graduate? You might be surprised to learn how many students have, in fact, earned enough units toward their degree to have it awarded, but failed to file the necessary paperwork.
Mr. Erick Cooper, Director of Planning, Research and Student Success, has been compiling records of how many students were awarded degrees versus how many earned enough to be awarded but, for one reason or another, never filed for them. He has records going back to Fall of 2006, and these records indicate that from Fall of 2006 through Fall of 2008 a total of 508 students were awarded degrees. During the same period, 28 students are known to have transferred, however a total of 95 students earned enough units to be awarded their degrees, but did not file the necessary paperwork to receive them. These numbers indicate that 19% of students that could have received degrees did not receive them. Roughly 1 in every 5.
What is more surprising, during that same period 306 students that were enrolled in a certificate program were awarded their certificates, but 130 students earned enough to be awarded their certificates and did not apply for them. This is surprising because one would assume that a student who was working toward a welding certificate, for example, would be wanting or needing it for a job that requires it. Yet, 42% of those in the program between Fall of 2006 and Fall of 2008 earned them, but did not file to receive them.
The deadline for filing this semester was Friday, April 15, and we are waiting for the current numbers to be released by the Administration offices, but going into this semester the numbers are a little higher than those quoted here for the degree category, and much higher for the certificates. I will be posting the new numbers in an update to this article that you will be able to find at our online newspaper www.theprospector.org so look for it in the near future.
We at The Prospector are interested in why students are earning degrees and certificates and not filing for them. We will be posting an online survey at www.theprospector.org and would appreciate your taking a few minutes to go to our site and indicate your thoughts or feelings on the subject.
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