http://www.nirak.net/2007/03/29/finish-in-4-is-it-really-that-big-a-deal/ Karin Dalziel Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:29:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 http://www.nirak.net/2007/03/29/finish-in-4-is-it-really-that-big-a-deal/#comment-27 The Eeyore Librarian Sun, 08 Apr 2007 09:12:50 +0000 http://nirak.net/testsite/?p=58#comment-27 Thank you so much for this post! I too took ten years to finish because 1)changed states and had to wait 12months to get residency and 2)had a baby and so dropped out for another 3 until preschool started and I could go back p/t. As a non-traditional student (married, mom, mortgage) it would be a HUGE dis-incentive to "pay more" for not graduating in 4yrs. Since the "average" graduation rate is more than 4yrs, who is defining the "traditional student". Also to consider is that we can no longer go to school, graduate and than never have to upgrade our skills ever again. We are in a "lifetime learner" environment because technology and software is continually changing and we need to enable people to be able to update their skills so that we can remain economically viable. When you only offer classes 50min a day 4days in row during the workweek (like my alma mater) you are putting up huge barriers for the working class to pursuing a higher education. My long 2cents. Thank you so much for this post! I too took ten years to finish because 1)changed states and had to wait 12months to get residency and 2)had a baby and so dropped out for another 3 until preschool started and I could go back p/t. As a non-traditional student (married, mom, mortgage) it would be a HUGE dis-incentive to “pay more” for not graduating in 4yrs. Since the “average” graduation rate is more than 4yrs, who is defining the “traditional student”. Also to consider is that we can no longer go to school, graduate and than never have to upgrade our skills ever again. We are in a “lifetime learner” environment because technology and software is continually changing and we need to enable people to be able to update their skills so that we can remain economically viable. When you only offer classes 50min a day 4days in row during the workweek (like my alma mater) you are putting up huge barriers for the working class to pursuing a higher education. My long 2cents.

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