Some Students Take Longer to Graduate
By Caitlin Clinard

Most people love it here at Carolina, but many students are taking more than four years to graduate. And some people in the administration think the University’s reputation is at risk.

By the time Nate Adams graduates, he’ll have been at UNC-Chapel Hill for five and a half years. And he’s well aware of the negative stigma that brings.

“I guess I feel like the administration has something to prove by cranking out as many students as they can, like they’re some kind of factory cranking out the future middle class of America or the future leaders of America,” Adams said.

UNC-CH has apparently fallen behind other public universities in its ability to get students to graduate in four years. Jerome Lucido, vice provost for enrollment, says competition is fierce among universities. But he says it’s important to look at both sides of the issue.

“It makes sense for us to be a bit competitive and say, ‘what kind of experience are our students having?’…’what are the reasons that are legitimate for students to graduate in five years or more?’ and ‘what are the reasons that aren’t legitimate?’” Lucido said.

Some reasons for staying in school longer than four years include changing majors, transferring or interning. But fourth-year junior Liz Fieldsteel still thinks there’s a negative perception of students like her.

“I feel like a lot of times when I say that I’m a junior and my age, people want a reason as to why I decided to take time off or it’s taken me so long—and kind of like I have to make up for it,” Fieldsteel said.

Adams agrees. “If you rush through school and graduate in four years, yes you’ll have the credits on paper, but will you have the life experience that says I’m ready to be an adult, enter the workforce, start a family, travel?” he said. “Taking time off helps you realize that learning is going to be a lifetime experience.”

Lucido says he believes most students are ambitious and want to move on thought it can be tough to leave this place. And the University is tackling the issue in the following ways: identifying students at risk of getting into academic trouble, building better warning systems and providing more advisers.