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Graduation Guarantees: Contracting for Success or Failure?

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Title: Graduation Guarantees: Contracting for Success or Failure?
Language: English
Authors: Witthuhn, Burton O., Carson, Jamie L.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 5
Publication Date: 1997
Document Type: Opinion Papers
Descriptors: Academic Persistence, Accountability, College Attendance, College Graduates, Degree Requirements, Educational Attainment, Graduation, Higher Education, School Holding Power, School Responsibility, Student College Relationship, Student Responsibility, Undergraduate Study
Abstract: The reasons for the phenomenon of guaranteed graduation are considered, as are criticisms of this approach. Guaranteed graduation programs have resulted in part as a result of an attempt to address issues and concerns about the cost of a college education, articulation of coursework, time to degree, and competency. While guarantees are designed to promote retention and tracking of students, they also specify students' responsibilities to fulfill program requirements, promising free or fixed tuition if the university fails to provide courses needed for the degree. This approach is also effective in marketing and recruitment. Criticisms concern whether guarantee programs are necessary and whether part-time and transfer students are eligible to participate. The guarantee phenomenon may be directed especially toward public higher education institutions, which have lower undergraduate completion rates than do private institutions. Guarantee programs have been developed in response to pressures from state legislators, parents, and taxpayers; some of the universities and states which have adopted this practice are identified. Students must be fully informed before signing a contract of expectations and responsibilities in terms of a guarantee, and the institution must be aware of implications of guarantees, such as providing courses, curriculum requirements, and issues of advising. (SW)
Entry Date: 1998
Accession Number: ED416746
Database: ERIC
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Graduation Guarantees: Contracting for Success or Failure?
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Witthuhn%2C+Burton+O%2E%22">Witthuhn, Burton O.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carson%2C+Jamie+L%2E%22">Carson, Jamie L.</searchLink>
– Name: PeerReviewed
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  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
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  Data: 5
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 1997
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  Data: Opinion Papers
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Persistence%22">Academic Persistence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Accountability%22">Accountability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Attendance%22">College Attendance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Graduates%22">College Graduates</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Degree+Requirements%22">Degree Requirements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Attainment%22">Educational Attainment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduation%22">Graduation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Holding+Power%22">School Holding Power</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Responsibility%22">School Responsibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+College+Relationship%22">Student College Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Responsibility%22">Student Responsibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Study%22">Undergraduate Study</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: The reasons for the phenomenon of guaranteed graduation are considered, as are criticisms of this approach. Guaranteed graduation programs have resulted in part as a result of an attempt to address issues and concerns about the cost of a college education, articulation of coursework, time to degree, and competency. While guarantees are designed to promote retention and tracking of students, they also specify students' responsibilities to fulfill program requirements, promising free or fixed tuition if the university fails to provide courses needed for the degree. This approach is also effective in marketing and recruitment. Criticisms concern whether guarantee programs are necessary and whether part-time and transfer students are eligible to participate. The guarantee phenomenon may be directed especially toward public higher education institutions, which have lower undergraduate completion rates than do private institutions. Guarantee programs have been developed in response to pressures from state legislators, parents, and taxpayers; some of the universities and states which have adopted this practice are identified. Students must be fully informed before signing a contract of expectations and responsibilities in terms of a guarantee, and the institution must be aware of implications of guarantees, such as providing courses, curriculum requirements, and issues of advising. (SW)
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  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 1998
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  Data: ED416746
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 5
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Academic Persistence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Accountability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Attendance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Graduates
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Degree Requirements
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Attainment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graduation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Holding Power
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Responsibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student College Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Responsibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Study
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Graduation Guarantees: Contracting for Success or Failure?
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Witthuhn, Burton O.
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            NameFull: Carson, Jamie L.
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              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 1997
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