According to recent analyses, six-year graduation rates for minority students have risen in line with newly announced improved graduation rates for the overall student body at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
The latest data from the Office of Planning and Budget Analysis show 60 percent of Asian Americans entering CU-Boulder since 1994 have graduated within six years, an increase of 5 percent to 10 percent over the rates of those who entered in the early 1990s.
The six-year graduation rates of Hispanic and Chicano students entering since 1996 have increased 58 percent, an increase of 10 percentage points. African American students show an increased graduation rate of 50 percent to 55 percent, up 15-20 percent over all prior classes.
Six-year graduation rates are calculated on entering classes of fulltime freshmen. The most recent class with a full six-year opportunity to graduate entered in 1997.
"The improvement in graduation rates for students of color is encouraging to the administration, faculty and staff who have worked extremely hard to develop retention programs for diverse populations on this campus," said Christine Yoshinaga-Itano, interim vice provost and associate vice chancellor for diversity.
She cited the CU Leadership, Excellence, Achievement and Diversity programs as a major contributor to student success.
"The overall improvement in graduation rates indicates that these programs have a significant and positive outcome," said Yoshinaga-Itano.
"Retention rates for participating students in these programs is 87 percent. The campus, through significant support from Chancellor Byyny and Provost DiStefano, continues to develop and implement programs that will increase the diversity of our student body and support the success of all students on our campus," Yoshinaga-Itano said.
To view graphs and charts detailing CU-Boulder graduation rates since 1980 with updates through summer 2003, see .