Dr. Charles McAdams, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, recently guided a team of 12 Delta State leaders at Mississippi\u2019s College Completion Conference in Jackson, which focused on college completion and graduation tactics.<\/p>\n
Sponsored by Mississippi Public Universities, the Mississippi Community College Board, and Complete College America, the conference, held Sept. 28-29 at the Mississippi e-Center at Jackson State University, emphasized the benefits of obtaining a college degree.<\/p>\n
The benefits of earning a postsecondary degree are well-documented \u2014 higher earnings, lower unemployment, greater civic involvement and better health are just a few recognized. But getting across the finish line is not always easy.<\/p>\n
Students face challenges both inside the classroom and beyond. Helping students overcome these challenges and graduate was the primary focus of the conference open to community college and university educators from across Mississippi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to have more students completing their degrees because they are going to be required for the workforce in the future,\u201d said McAdams. \u201cStudents can\u2019t achieve their personal aspirations and goals if they don\u2019t have a degree.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother reason having a degree is essential is because of finances. A lot of our students take five or six years to complete their degree, but I\u2019m not sure they\u2019re aware of how much that actually costs them in the long run.\u201d<\/p>\n
McAdams said one beneficial topic at the conference was the concept of academic maps.<\/p>\n
\u201cAcademic maps is the notion of providing each student in each major exactly what they need so they can graduate,\u201d he said. \u201cI know we\u2019ve had four-year programs in the past, but these maps go into a much greater detail, and they really allow academic chairs, advisors, and students to see how prerequisites and scheduling come into play.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want anything to get in the way or be a barrier for a student to complete on time. I\u2019d like the public to know that Delta State is committed to finding ways to help and support students to graduate on time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mississippi\u2019s Commissioner of Higher Education, Dr. Glenn F. Boyce, also provided guidance at the conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cIncreasing educational attainment is a very important issue for our university system and our state,\u201d said Boyce. \u201cThis conference provides us with the opportunity to bring together national leaders in the field with the educators who work directly with the students. Our goal is to help every student graduate in a timely manner, and these discussions will help us explore ways we can improve the programs and services offered to help achieve this goal.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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