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UA 'needs improvement' in same areas

UA President Peter Likins yesterday said the university's faults can be remedied with more money from the state Legislature.

The Arizona Board of Regents' annual Report Card, released Mar. 9, placed state universities' graduation rates and academic advising in the "needs improvement" category.

"There are no surprises in the Report Card," Likins said. "I'm optimistic in the long term about improvements in support from the legislature."

The Report Card is compiled annually by ABOR, and is based on self-evaluations in 19 categories from the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University.

Graduation rates have been placed in the "needs improvement" category since 1997, the Report Card's first year. Advising has remained in the category since 1998.

Regent Judy Gignac said she doesn't blame this year's low performance on the universities.

"I don't believe there's much more the universities can do," Gignac said.

Gignac said the Arizona universities' six-year graduation rate - which has hovered at 48 percent since 1996 - can be improved with more financial aid revenue.

"Obviously, the university needs to continue to watch it, but to make any changes to it is going to take state money," she said.

Likins said UA's graduation rates are improving, but slowly. He added that the UA's lenient admissions requirements contribute to the lagging numbers.

"We're not likely to get a superior in graduation rates," he said. "You're never happy when any student leaves the university unhappily."

He said the Integrated Learning Center - which is slated for completion in spring of 2001 - is focused on "turning freshmen into sophomores" and may help graduation rates.

The UA is also working to help students get involved in the university community, Likins said, which could also boost graduation rates.

"It's not always about grades, it's about being lonely," he said. "Anything that makes you feel part of this place gives you the courage to hang in there."

Likins said more money from the legislature would allow the UA to hire more faculty, thus giving faculty advisers more one-on-one time with students.

UA's student-to-faculty ratio is about 19 to 1, compared to about 14 to 1 in most of the UA's peer institutions, Likins said.

"Until we get those rates down, it's going to be hard for us to give the personal attention the (superior) rating requires," he said. "It's going to be an uphill battle."

The UA's new student information system, Cosmos, will be finished by when and aims to provide students with better service, Likins said.

Gignac said the UA needs to pay more attention to advising.

"If the students are not happy, then they (UA administrators) need to look at advising," she said. "Based on the numbers we're seeing, the university needs improvement in that area."

Likins said money generated from Campaign Arizona - the UA's private-funding effort - could also help relieve advising and graduation problems by increasing money for financial aid and faculty salaries.

Gignac said ABOR is not likely to make recommendations or ultimatums to the universities for low advising and graduation ratings unless those ratings persist for a long period of time.

"We (ABOR) are just a vehicle," she said. "We would first ask for more informations."