Pennsylvania has joined a coalition of 17 states pledging to increase university graduation rates, but Penn State already ranks highly in getting students to commencement day.
The states will be working with Washington, D.C.-based Complete College America in order to set goals, establish benchmarks and develop plans to graduate more students, according to its Web site.
"Pennsylvania signed on to the multi-state Complete College America initiative in an effort to mobilize the commonwealth's leaders to think hard and collaboratively about how we as a state can increase college completion rates," said Michael Race, director of press and communications for the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
But Penn State's graduation rates are already admirable, Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said.
According to data released in 2008 by the National Center for Education Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 85 percent of Penn State students graduate within six years.
"While Penn State already has one of the highest graduation rates among public universities nationally and in the commonwealth, we can always strive to do better and the results will be even more positive for the commonwealth," Powers said. "We are happy to share what we know and learn more from other institutions."
Penn State tops the list of graduation rates for public four-year universities, with Cheyney University of Pennsylvania falling at the bottom with 22 percent. For private four-year universities, the University of Pennsylvania boasts a 95 percent graduation rate.
Though no official decisions have been made, Race said a group of state, institutional and other leaders will convene to develop Pennsylvania's strategy in the coming months.
Penn State has asked Robert N. Pangborn, vice president and dean for undergraduate education and professor of engineering mechanics, to represent the university in Pennsylvania's plans to increase graduation rates.
High schools play an important role in preparation, he said. Once in college, students need to be offered support to "address both the academic and financial challenges," Pangborn said.
Powers said she recognizes the benefits of a college education on society.
"Those who graduate from college tend to become more open-minded, more cultured, more rational, more in tune with world affairs, and they tend to vote more and have better health," she said. "These are things you would wish for everyone."
