A new report by the Lumina Foundation for Education, one of the nation’s 50 largest foundations, highlights Elon University’s programs to ensure student success. The report, titled “Refuse to lose: today’s colleges and universities must work to foster student success,” was written by Edward Fiske, publisher of one of the nation’s best-selling college guides.
The report explores college graduation rates, called “the Achilles heel of American higher education,” by Patrick M. Callan, president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) show that only 55 percent of students who embark on bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges and universities end up with a degree six years later.
With a six-year graduation rate of 71 percent and a freshman retention rate of 87 percent, Elon ranks among the top Southern universities in these measures of student success.
Elon has been named one of 13 “Institutions of Excellence” by the Policy Center on the First Year of College and is ranked among the best schools in first-year experiences by U.S. News & World Report.
The Lumina Foundation report notes Elon’s multiple programs that “share a common emphasis on building personal connections in the university community.” Among those quoted in the report are faculty members Steve Braye and Sandra Seidel, Becky Olive-Taylor, associate director of academic advising, and student Megan Blaney.
The Lumina Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Indianapolis. Its primary focus is to expand access and success in postsecondary education, particularly among underserved student groups.
Click here to read the Lumina report chapter focusing on Elon.
Click here to download a PDF file of the full report.