Four-year degrees are rapidly disappearing

In days past the bachelor's degree was synonymous with a four-year degree.

Undergraduate students could enter a university at 18 and expect to be out by their 23rd birthday.

These days, however, most college-bound high school students plan to be in classes for four and a half to five years at the minimum. Research done by the National Center for Education Statistics found that less than 40 percent of undergraduate students complete a degree in four years.

One could argue that universities are setting their students up to spend more time at school. UW-Oshkosh requires a minimum of 120 credits for a bachelor's degree, but taking the minimum 12 credits per semester will earn only 96 credits over four years.

Of course, there is also the problem of getting into all of the necessary courses. Some programs, journalism for example, offer only one section of necessary courses each semester due to lack of faculty or classrooms. Students are then left biding their time until they can schedule the courses needed to advance in their program. This time is often essentially wasted in lower-level courses that do little to advance students toward graduation. Additionally, students are later forced to take on several higher-level courses at once to make up for time lost in previous semesters. Students are placed under a heavy workload that is detrimental to their ability to retain information presented in those courses that would be most helpful in careers outside the University.

Some universities have created incentives for students who graduate in four or fewer years. According to an article in the "Chronicle of Higher Education" journal, lawmakers in Texas approved a program in which universities will pay off student loans of undergraduates who complete their degree in four years. In California, students wishing to transfer onto some campuses must meet strict course requirements for admission, and in Washington state, legislators urged colleges to develop a system to help students graduate faster.

Ten years ago the UW System implemented the Four-Year Graduation Contract, which guarantees students in certain programs graduation in four years. According to Director of Academic Advising Lynn Freeman, the program entails a contract between students and the University that essentially guarantees completion of a bachelor's degree in four years.

In the contract, the University agrees to use its resources to ensure the student is enrolled in the necessary classes in a timely manner and the student agrees to complete at least one quarter of the 120 credits each year. 

Although the program guarantees students a speedier education, which is undoubtedly beneficial for students and institutions alike, the program could have a negative effect on the quality of education students receive. Students must declare a major upon signing the contract, and any changes to their major or minor are considered a breach of the terms and result in termination of the contract.

Part of the liberal arts education offered by universities is allowing students to explore subjects outside their designated majors that hold an interest for them. As it stands, the Four-Year Graduation Contract seems to hinder this ability more than it enhances it.

In addition, the contract is not available for some programs including nursing, social work and all college of education programs. The contract cites "extensive requirements" as the reason programs are excluded but gives no specific explanation for the exclusion of each individual major.

The Four-Year Graduation Contract may be one solution to help students graduate in a shorter amount of time, but more solutions are needed. Universities should not cut course sections based on dropout rates if those cuts disservice students who do stay enrolled.

Furthermore, efforts should be made to provide additional sections for higher-level classes that fill up quickly.