Straight Talk about the Graduation Initiative

Graduation in the CSU’s is a very hot topic it is an issue that has been talked about among many groups on campus, from administrators, students to faculty. Now more then ever is it imperative for CSU’s to start showing some results especially in light of the financial crisis. On a national level it is Presidents Obama’s initiative that educational system will halve the gaps in college- going and college success that separates African- American, Latino and American- Indian students from white and Asian- American students- and low- income students from more affluent students (National Association of Students Heads). The initiative that the CSU’s are attempting to push to graduate more students, 6 percent within 6 six years, they are also specifically aiming to close the achievement gap in half (National Association of Student Heads). This initiative has been criticized from students. They feel as thought the University is shipping them out ill prepared for life. In order to properly critique the CSU’s reasoning for their graduation initiative you must properly understand the crisis we are facing, not only economically but also educationally. It is important to understand that students on campus are not graduating. Many students are merely lingering around on campus walking around with 200 plus units without graduating. The framework of higher education is like a swinging pendulum swings one way in one groups favor at times and swings at times in another groups favor. A very intelligent woman told me once in a discussion regarding religion in how I am so reluctant to go to church. She told me to go to church and don’t worry about the issues regarding religion and how churches are ran, because in the end every church is flawed because man flawed. This is true in respects to every form of organization. Man is flawed so therefore it is inventible that certain things will not fall in place perfectly. The only thing that has cherry on top is ice cream.

Certain tools and strategies that CSU’s are using to keep students on track to graduate are advising holds and academic workshops. You can only do so many workshops and have so many advising holds until the blame for not achieving academic success falls on the students. It is always easier to hate on “the man” or blame someone else for your problems, example blaming the University for the lack of student’s success. I think what JFK said fits perfectly, “ask not what your country can do for you, but you can do for your country.”

Let’s not take the blame off Higher Education, if these are there goals to raise graduation lets hold them responsible.

I currently work in Higher education as an intern for a academic program whose goal is to help retain and graduate its students and have them achieve success once the graduate. With my experience I do believe that certain groups of student achieve lower academic success the others. I am talking about minority students and even more specifically Black Students in higher education. Black students in higher education are not graduating at the rates of there white counter parts. Depending where you get your stats from approximately 40 percent of black students graduate with there college degree within a 6 year span compared to white students Black are behind by 25 percent; you do the math.

The question that needs to be asked is why is this?

Historically Black students have been disadvantaged on every level of education. Dating back to the 60’s black students could not go to the same schools as whites students. Once integration started many schools still had racial tension and prejudices which made it difficult for Blacks to achieve success in academics. Now in the present, schools are pursuing to have more diverse campuses. The break down for CSU’s as why Black students are not graduating is that many of these students whom are Black do not have the support in order for these students to graduate. Underrepresented Minorities (URM) whom receive the Pell Grant graduate at 42 percent, those URM students who don’t receive a Pell grant graduation at 53 percent (National Association of Student Heads). This means students from low- income families are graduating at lower rates than those from more affluent areas. The students have the access but the students lack the resources once they get in.

There are a plethora of white administrators and faculty and staff for white students to connect with. But “where the brothas at”! Black students need mentors and professors to build bonds and connections so they can help foster there growth as students and as young professionals. Students need mentors to help them properly navigate their way through higher education which at times could be over whelming and confusing. Many Black students from CSU, Fresno come from urban areas LA and the Bay Area most of these students are low- income and first-generation college bound students. Campus Assistance Migrant Program and the University Migrant Services Program serve migrant students from the rural areas outside Fresno. Most of the population in these areas such as Chowchilla, Porterville, Tulare, Riverdale, and Kerman to name a few are predominantly Latino. CAMP and UMS serve students from migrant working families most of these families in the cities are Latino. The point is that Latinos are graduating at higher rates then black students at CSU, Fresno. Could it be that it is because they do have that academic support that black students lack in higher education.

If administrators want to get any where with the 6 in 6 initiative, the administrators must take a better look at the resources for students. Even in a budget crunch you must think outside the box and come up with creative ways to serve your students at your respected campuses. Administrators need to think of the Pedagogy of URM in higher education. Who are teaching Black students, outside being an African- American Studies Major, finding a faculty or member at CSU, Fresno from my experience is slim and rare.

To the students, you must take responsibility for education Black or White or Hispanic at the end of the day you must stop looking for someone to make change and it is yourself after all the only way change has ever happened. Dr. King didn’t wait for the government to create equal rights, he fought for them, Rosa Parks didn’t wait for the government to let her sit up front on the bus; she sat there on her own. If you want to make change, graduate work your way up to positions of influence and make change happen, stop waiting for it to happen. Yes we do have a right to be on a college campus and have education for all, but for how long. While discussing this issue with a friend of mine he told me that, citizens of this country should be able to go to school and receive an education. Key word in the statement is citizens. We must realize the University is investing in us to receive an education and in return give back to our communities. We are more than students we are citizens of our country, it is our duty to serve it and when change needs to take place we need to make it, but how could this happen if we are not graduating. Students I challenge you to graduate and make change when change is needed.

By: KY