Southeastern NEWS

                                          Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
   Date:    10/27/99
   Contact:                                Christina Chapple  1

SOUTHEASTERN WORKING TO ADDRESS GRADUATION RATE
  HAMMOND   Announcing Southeastern Louisiana University's graduation rates today,
President Sally Clausen said that while she is not satisfied with the current numbers, she is
encouraged that the university's graduation rate is improving.
  "While Southeastern can legitimately boast that 92 percent of its students are working or
going on to professional schools within three months of graduation, students are not graduating
fast enough," Clausen said. "I know that 75 percent of our students work, and many are juggling
family and other responsibilities. However, too many still come to us under-prepared for the
rigors of college work. That's why we have aggressively and cooperatively pursued driving
remedial work back to high schools and to technical and community colleges. And while we've
been successful, we must do more."
  According to the Board of Regents, Southeastern's six-year graduation rate is 28.6 percent, up
from 1998's 24.2 percent rate. The 10-year graduation rate is about 40 percent. 
  "Graduation rates are directly correlated to student preparation and high standards," Clausen
said. "Southeastern has introduced admissions standards for fall 2000 and fully expects a gradual
climb in graduation rates as a direct result." The new policy will be measured in four to six years
as the first freshman classes under the new policy graduate.
  "For current students we are offering more tutoring, stronger academic advising, and peer
mentoring," said Randy Moffett, Southeastern's Provost.
  "It's always fun to talk about success stories and we certainly have many," Moffett said.
However, we must face our challenges head-on and that's what we're going to do   continue to
work cooperatively with our high schools and to raise standards for admission to our university."
  Clausen has asked Moffett to form a university committee to examine retention and
graduation rates.
                               -SLU-
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