University of Wisconsin schools want to bump the number of graduates. By the year 2025, the UW-schools want to confer nearly 33,700 undergraduate degrees per year, up from the current 26,000 per year.
As of 2008, 26 percent of Wisconsin adults had a four year degree, below the national average of 28 percent. UW-System Spokesman David Giroux says this leads to the Wisconsin falling behind especially compared to states like neighboring Minnesota.
David Giroux (:36)
Ways to accomplish the graduation goal include targeting nontraditionally aged students, veterans, persons of color and first generation college students, according to Giroux. He says individual schools will need to determine what works best at their respective campuses.
Many campuses have already been implementing ways to boost the number of graduates such as former UW-Oshkosh students who left school short of a four year degree. Giroux says in those cases outreach will happen to attract the candidates back to school.
Giroux says the graduation benchmark is tied in with a larger goal of job creation through strong research and development, along with ensuring quality instruction and staff.
On Thursday in Fond du Lac, UW System President Kevin Reilly and officials from UW campuses will discuss the plan.
