Cunningham, Pou Bill to Help Students Graduate on Time Clears Committee

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senate Higher Education Chair Sandra B. Cunningham and Senator Nellie Pou, which would require certain students to develop and file a degree plan, cleared the Senate Higher Education Committee today.

“Currently, the four year graduation rate for college students in the state is a troubling 42 percent.  It is crucial that we work diligently to do all that we can to ensure our students graduate on time,” said Senator Cunningham (D-Hudson). “The faster students are able to graduate from college, the faster they can start their careers and pay off their debt. In order to guarantee this for our students, this legislation will put a safeguard in place to keep them on track.”

The bill, S-791, would require undergraduate students at colleges and universities to meet with an appropriate academic official and outline the requirements of their degree program along with a plan to meet those requirements.

“Attending college is a serious financial commitment,” said Senator Pou (D-Bergen/Passaic). “Pursuing a four year degree often leaves most young adults paying off student loans into their 30s and 40s. Having students graduate on time rather than in five or six years will help them pay significantly less for their education and alleviate some of the burden of decades-long debt.”

At four year schools, students would be required to meet with their advisor sometime between when they start school and when they complete 45 credit hours. At county colleges and proprietary schools, students would be required to set their degree plan before the completion of 30 credits.

The bill would require schools to develop graduation progress benchmarks for each major, which would specify credit and course criteria that indicate satisfactory progress towards a degree. If a student fell behind on a benchmark, they would be required to meet with an academic advisor prior to their next course registration.

The bill was released from the committee by a vote of 5-0.