Winston-Salem State University Focuses on Degree Efficiency

wssuHistorically Black Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina is participating in the new program led by the Association of American Colleges and Universities that seeks to improve “degree efficiency” and therefore increase graduation rates of Black students. The Purposeful Pathways: Faculty Planning for Curricular Coherence initiative seeks to focus students on finding the most direct path to graduation without becoming overburdened by unnecessary course work.

The University of North Carolina System requires students to complete 120 credit hours of study in order to graduate. But the system average for graduating students is 139.2 credit hours. At Winston-Salem State University, degree efficiency programs have reduced the average credit hours of graduating students from 137 to 128 over the past three years.

Under the program, faculty and administrators examine how general education courses integrate with the students’ majors and see how students can meet the prerequisites required for advanced study with fewer total courses. Advisors work closely with students to help them identify the best courses to take to meet their graduation requirements.

Elwood L. Robinson, chancellor of Winston-Salem State University, stated that “we cannot do things the way they have always been done. We are looking at our curriculum from all angles and making decisions on the alignment of courses by placing the student at the center of the process. By helping our students graduate more efficiently, we are able to help them save thousands of dollars of tuition, room, and board. They also enter the workforce sooner, which gives them a head start in paying off any debt they did incur.”

Related Articles

1 COMMENT

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs