College guarantees four-year graduation

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), August, 1996

A four-year graduation guarantee contract has been made available to entering Virginia Wesleyan College freshmen, beginning with fall, 1996. It guarantees that all undergraduate students wishing to graduate in four years will be provided necessary courses as required by the college for their selected major field of study Any required courses needed beyond four years will be provided to the students tuition-free. The program focuses on quality academic advising and student diligence and is offered college-wide for all majors.

There is a concern on the national level about the rising costs of tuition. Virginia Wesleyan feels that this program will address that concern by assisting the students and parents, in partnership with the college, to meet their goals in four years. When the student fulfills his or her part of the written contract, that should be accomplished with no difficulty. The contract outlines the student's responsibilities, including meeting regularly with his or her adviser, maintaining an acceptable grade point average, declaring a major on time, and remaining in good standing at the college.

"Many parents tell us that their number-one concern as their [off-spring] enter college is that they might be required to pay for the dreaded fifth year. Our response is this exciting new contract and guarantee, and we are delighted to be what we believe is the first private liberal arts college in the nation to make this guarantee to our [incoming] freshmen," indicates Martha E. Rogers, vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions.

Statistics show that it is becoming much more likely nowadays that students will take an average of five years to graduate. In addition to saving money for the students and parents, the extra time saved will enable graduates to embark on a career or enter graduate school a year earlier. In today's economy and marketplace, this can be a very big advantage.