Problem Statement and Research Questions _______________________________________
CUNY has persistently low graduation rates. From 2005 to 2009, the average percentage of first time enrolled students in CUNY community colleges, completing an Associate Degree (AA) within 6 years was only 27 percent (OIRA, 2015). Further, an estimated 51 percent of CUNY community colleges completely eventually dropout out of a CUNY community college AA program (Cited in DeAvila, 20111). This has significant micro and macro consequences.
Micro Costs
From a micro perspective, students – especially low income students lacking financial resources –that fail to graduate from college are less likely to find stable employment, which affects social mobility and future …show more content…
For instance, according a Center for an Urban Future report (2011), each CUNY college dropout cost NYC and NYS an estimated $17, 783 (Center for an Urban Future, 2011). The report notes that college drop outs result in $2.3 billion economic losses , including lost income, greater poverty, and depressed economic activity, to NYC and NYS (ibid). Finally, in terms of expenditures, NYC and NYS have to spend more monies on unemployment, public assistance, and, in general, the criminal justice system as a result of CUNY community college dropouts (Ibid; Zeneta et al 2013).
That said several research questions arose from this issue. This report will attempt to address the following questions:
What are some of the micro and macro benefits of raising graduation rates, particularly the economic benefits to NYC and NYS?
What are some of the major underlining causes that prevent CUNY community college students from completing their degrees?
With the previously mentioned causes in mind, is there any CUNY program or programs that are in place or could be put in place to significantly raise graduation
CUNY has persistently low graduation rates. From 2005 to 2009, the average percentage of first time enrolled students in CUNY community colleges, completing an Associate Degree (AA) within 6 years was only 27 percent (OIRA, 2015). Further, an estimated 51 percent of CUNY community colleges completely eventually dropout out of a CUNY community college AA program (Cited in DeAvila, 20111). This has significant micro and macro consequences.
Micro Costs
From a micro perspective, students – especially low income students lacking financial resources –that fail to graduate from college are less likely to find stable employment, which affects social mobility and future …show more content…
For instance, according a Center for an Urban Future report (2011), each CUNY college dropout cost NYC and NYS an estimated $17, 783 (Center for an Urban Future, 2011). The report notes that college drop outs result in $2.3 billion economic losses , including lost income, greater poverty, and depressed economic activity, to NYC and NYS (ibid). Finally, in terms of expenditures, NYC and NYS have to spend more monies on unemployment, public assistance, and, in general, the criminal justice system as a result of CUNY community college dropouts (Ibid; Zeneta et al 2013).
That said several research questions arose from this issue. This report will attempt to address the following questions:
What are some of the micro and macro benefits of raising graduation rates, particularly the economic benefits to NYC and NYS?
What are some of the major underlining causes that prevent CUNY community college students from completing their degrees?
With the previously mentioned causes in mind, is there any CUNY program or programs that are in place or could be put in place to significantly raise graduation