| Show Higher education ion retention rate drops More students dropping out to join the workforce Jessi Jesse Durrant Contributing Writer Utah's retention rates for public institutions have fallen behind the national average according jo to o the Salt Lake Tribune Utah higher education officials have said that too many college- college age adults choose to swing hammers for Utah's still healthy economy and earn fast money instead of focusing on their college education As a result Utah's economic future may not be so bright Cedar City native Brandon Grover is among young to make this decision Grover left Snow College as a freshman to towo wo work the old rigs in Uinta Basin He explained to college leaders gathered in St. St George that his generation wants the good things thin s right ight away W Were re not willing to wait said said Grover Grover is back in school scho l now after realizing that h he a could not work the oil rigs figs forever According to the Salt Lake Tribune Grovers Grover's story illustrates the national problem of sagging student success This is a problem that is particularly acute in Utah as well as the United States in general The country has dropped from first place to tenth place in the percentage of adults holding college degrees in only 20 years Were going in the wrong direction said Dave Buhler interim Higher Education Commissioner Unless we make tough choices to dramatically improve public and higher education outcomes our students will compete for jobs against educated better-educated people all over the world It is agreed by regents that Utah must increase the number of residents with college degrees but they are unwilling to embrace Buhler's vision of 61 percent of Utah adults holding degrees in 17 years from now as opposed to its 38 percent currently Some of the regents have other ideas like job training A lot of the jobs dont don't fit well with traditional year four-year degrees Regent Nolan Karras told the Tribune According to the research prepared for Buhler Utah's retention rates of 62 percent for year four-year public institutions and 54 percent for year two-year public institutions ns lag the 4 national ati a averages averages of 72 percent f r four four- year public institutions and 64 percent for year two-year p public institutions Interestingly an institutions institution's retention rate often reflects its prestige with Harvard having havinga a 98 percent retention rate and Snow College having only a 43 percent retention rate However Snow College is often used as a stone stepping-stone for students so its retention rate may not mean much Retention Rate Continued on I Retention Rate in Utah Continued from A 1 Cost of college is another factor Student loans lessen the however can tuition costs and blow of fees but tend to be debt conscientious which leads many to prolong their education But according to officials a debt of can be paid off in about ten years According to Barb garb Snyder University o of Utah Vice President of student affairs taking out student loans is worth it A student would be far better off taking out loans and getting through college faster than taking tune time off from school to work said Snyder to the Tribune |
