Graduation Rates

Oh joy. The new graduation rates under the new formula are in. The new Graduation Success Rate is a statistic "improves the federally mandated graduation-rate by including transfer data in the calculation. It was developed in response to college and university presidents who wanted graduation data that more accurately reflect the mobility among students in today’s higher education climate."

Yeah. I am trying to figure out how I could care less.

Anyway, for the years 1995-1998, the GSR for SMU 82%. Under the old govt. formula, that number was 63%. 63% is at least in line with the school graduation rates as a whole.

Let's check out those mean, horrible schools in Texas that lack "academic integrity."
GSR (Fed.)
TCU: 86% (70%);
Tech:73% (65%);
Texas: 40% (31%);
A&M: 63% (59%);
Baylor: 88% (73%);
Houston: 45% (42%);
NTSU: 52% (47%);
UTEP: 37% (32%).

Here are some schools with "academic integrity:"
Duke: 87% (81%);
Northwestern: 92% (81%);
Notre Dame: 96% (85%);
Penn. State: 84% (77%);
Rice: 89% (84%);
Tulane: 77% (75%);
Vandy: 93% (88%).

Look, "academic integrity" is a sham. Look at the numbers. TCU does better than SMU? Baylor? Using the govt. numbers, Tech does better? And we are not winning anyway. I continue to maintain that there is a way to have success on the field and in the classroom. All SMU has to do is admit it is doing it the wrong way and commit itself to doing it the right way. And that means mimmicking the schools that win football games and graduate their players. Period.