As Table 3 shows, the retention rate for students between the freshman to sophomore year has steadily declined, from 65 percent in 2002-2003 to 56% in 2005-2006, and the graduation rate has dropped from 43 percent to 31 percent. (Link to KSUfactbook2007_87_91.pdf)
Table 3: KSU Retention and Graduation Rates (KSU Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness: KSU Fact Book 2007, pp. 87, 91)
Retention Rate (%) Freshman to Sophomore Graduation Rate (%) 6-Year Cohort
Entering Year
2002 - 2003 65 1997 43
2003 - 2004 62 1998 40
2004 - 2005 59 1999 32
2005 - 2006 56 2000 31
All students at KSU, with the exception of those enrolled in the Whitney Young School of Honors, must complete a Liberal Studies General Core of 41 hours and a Liberal Studies Integrative Studies requirement of 12 hours. All freshmen who are degree-seeking students entering the University, or students who transfer to the University with 24 or fewer semester credit hours, also must take University Orientation (UNV 101, or MUS 103, or HON 103). (Link to Catalogue_2007-2008_pp23-25.pdf) Given that the great majority of freshmen take at least one remedial-level course and more than half require two, most students enrolling in core classes have had remediation. Evidence shows that too many do not fare as well as they ought, receiving grades below C or withdrawing, especially in certain classes within the Core Requirements. The Joint QEP Committee refers to these as "gateway" classes, for they perform the function of a gate, keeping students who have not demonstrated mastery of knowledge or academic skills, or who lack attitudes conducive to learning, from progressing farther in their academic careers. These courses include
ENG 101: English Composition I
ENG 102: English Composition II
MAT 111: Contemporary Mathematics
MAT 115: College Algebra
BIO 101: Life Science
CHE 109: Chemistry in Context
Student academic performance in both developmental and gateway courses has been poor. Data from the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (Table 4) shows that many students (nearly half) in any given semester over the past four years have failed to complete their courses or received a grade below "C," the minimum to meet University requirements for such classes.
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