The UVa Track Record on Graduation Rates

by James A. BaconThe University of Virginia has the highest graduation rate of any public university in the country, a record it can be proud of. Some analysts contend, however, that UVa's exception performance can be attributed to the fact that it admits a lower percentage of students from low-income families, who are at higher risk of dropping out. Others counter that UVa's emphasis on merit-based admissions is appropriate for Virginia's flagship university. It is too early yet to tell if recent changes in UVa admissions policies, such as dropping the requirement to submit SAT scores, will impact graduation rates.The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) publishes a breakdown of six-year graduation rates by race/ethnicity for the 2015 entering class (seen above). Though small in number, students who identified as American Indian scored a stellar 100% graduation rate. Among major groups, Asians performed the best, with a 95% graduation rate. Whites followed with a 93% rate, and Hispanics close behind with a 92% rate. By contrast, only 84% of Blacks graduated.The lower graduation for Blacks at UVa should be a source of concern. While the administration touts the fact that the university meets 100% of the financial aid students require, one might ask if that sum is enough. In particular, are Black students more likely than others to stress about meeting basic needs such as housing and food? Alternatively, are Black students more likely to struggle academically? Do they have a higher incidence of mental illness? Are they less likely to feel a sense of "belonging," or on the flip side, are they more likely to feel alienated from their institution and fellow students?The SCHEV report cited in the previous post explores some of these issues but not all. That report, which was compiled with input from university administrators across Virginia's public higher-ed system, likely reflects the thinking of UVa administrators as well -- including their blind spots. For all the talk about conducting "brave," "courageous," and "candid" dialogues about race at UVa, some topics just aren't talked about.After the tragedy of the Nov. 13 triple murder, in which the alleged perpetrator, a young Black man, showed signs of alienation and mental illness, the university would be well advised to take an honest look at the special challenges Black students face at UVa.