Montclair State is one of 12 institutions to be part of a Graduate Rate Outcomes Study.

The other schools are:

California State University-Stanislaus

Clemson University

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Elizabeth City State University

Louisiana Tech University

Murray State University

Northwest Missouri State University

Truman State University

University of Northern Iowa

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Virginia State University

By Diana St. Lifer

When it comes to graduation rates, Montclair State's is higher than those of similar universities across the nation. So what is it that makes MSU so successful? That's exactly what a group of educational leaders involved in a national Graduation Rate Outcomes Study set to find out during a recent two-day campus visit.

The study--a partnership among the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Education Trust and the National Association of System Heads--is a comprehensive examination of the graduation rate of success achieved by 12 public institutions across the country. The goal is to discover elements of intentional programming, integration of efforts, proactive intervention with students, leadership and the extent to which information driven processes contribute to the success that has been achieved.

Montclair State's 57-percent six-year graduation rate is well above the 49-percent national average for similar schools, and the University is looking to improve its standing by at least another 10 percent. That focus, says Joan Ficke of Academic Affairs, is part of the reason for Montclair State's overall success. "President [Susan A.] Cole has established this as a clear goal and objective for our institution," she said. "The president's leadership and commitment to graduation rate improvement has generated a compelling direction for units across campus."

Cole, in 1999, created a 16-member Presidential Task Force on Student Achievement that represented a broad range of educational services and programs to study issues of student achievement and retention. A report was issued in July 2001 with recommendations that provided the framework for current programs and practices.

Last month, the eight-member study team spoke with staff in various offices in Student Development and Campus Life as well as department chairs, dean's office advisers, and members of Institutional Research and TEAC, among others. "The team spoke with key individuals from offices that play an important role in creating an environment that helps our students achieve their goal of earning a bachelor's degree," said Provost Richard Lynde.

What the team found, according to its preliminary report, was an excellent collaboration between Student Development and Campus Life and Academic Affairs. "The collaboration between our divisions is seamless and a part of our University culture," said Karen L. Pennington, vice president for Student Development and Campus Life. "This allows us the ability to be focused on students and their needs, and therefore to establish and meet a shared set of goals." While a final study report will be not completed until the summer, Ficke said the team was "very complimentary" of Montclair State. Ultimately the report will be distributed to higher education leaders as well as state and federal higher education policy and oversight officials.