Fish Take The Jump

The University of Houston has new plans in place to cut back on the abundance of students on the ever popular seven-year plan. Admissions standards have been raised, more academic advisors are in place, and students who complete 30 hours a year are eligible for up to $3,000 in tuition rebates. The goal is to have 20% (up from 13%) of students graduate in 4 years.

“When students struggle early in college, it's not because they're not smart enough," said William F. Monroe, executive associate dean of UH's honors college. "It's the culture of college that is a shock to them. They're in classes for 15 hours a week, instead of 35, and they have more free time.”

Another change is the new program, The Jump. It offers college newbies 2 required courses during summer school for the price of one. The organizers purposely included a 2-hour break between classes. It’s not enough for the students to go off campus, but it does give them time to hang out at UH before the 35,000 students who will be there in the fall arrive. And it gives them the chance to have precious one-on-one time with their professors if they need it.

The program is already more popular than expected. It was thought that 50 students would likely take advantage of the cheap tuition, but enrollment was closer to 150. It’s so important to help the fish with the culture shock that comes along with being in college for the first time because that’s when universities lose most students. At our orientation, we were told to look to our right and left, and those students wouldn’t be there in a year. The Jump is working to help more UH freshman become sophomores.

Photo: flickr user smandviwala