by JULIANNE OLSON
Intern News Reporter

Appalachian State University officials have plans to increase the percentage of freshmen that graduate in four years.

“There is no single, magic solution to address graduating students in four years,” Bobby Sharp, director of institutional research and planning said. “It is a multi-faceted effort across campus with a lot of people doing a lot of things.”

Appalachian’s four-year graduation rate is 37 percent as of the 2004-05 school year, compared to the overall University of North Carolina institution rate of 40 percent. This is the most recent information available.

Admissions policies, financial aid, summer bridge programs, programmatic interventions and institutional reorganization will all be implemented by the university to help students graduate in four years.

Admissions policies for the 2008-09 entering class included a “notification deadline” practice rather the traditional rolling acceptance dates.

These academically stronger classes will progress and graduate at higher rates, according to Appalachian’s retention and graduation rates report.

The new general education program is designed to help students achieve the essential learning outcomes of a liberal arts education, according to the report.

The Student Achievement Team increases four-year graduation rates by being involved in academic policy and academic intervention.

“We need to figure out what the policies that may be impeding students graduating in four years,” David Haney, vice-provost of undergraduate education said. “We want to make sure we are not the ones preventing students from graduating in four years.”

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