Project Graduate, a statewide collaborative program to help former students complete their college degrees that includes WKU Finish, has received a major national award for developing one of the “most successful, state-of-the-art retention programs in use today.”
Project Graduate, launched in 2008 by the Council on Postsecondary Education and Kentucky’s public universities to recruit, retain and graduate former students with 80 or more credit hours but no bachelor’s degree, was honored by Noel-Levitz, a higher education consulting firm specializing in student retention, recruitment, financial aid, market research and communications development.
In the WKU Finish program, as of the spring 2012 semester, 149 former students had completed their degrees. Statewide, as of spring 2011, 605 former students had earned their bachelor’s degrees, and another 651 adults were enrolled in fall 2011.
WKU Finish and Project Graduate offer a smooth transition and high-touch student services and incentives for busy, working adults who want to complete their degrees.
“WKU Finish is a very successful endeavor for our previous students,” said Rebekah Phillips, program coordinator. “Finish students often tell us how much they appreciate a live voice, an advocate, and a contact on campus who will answer questions or find someone to answer questions from different offices all over campus. We build relationships with these students, letting them know we are happy to have them back, and happy to see them achieve what they started.”
Read more: Council on Postsecondary Education news release; Noel-Levitz news release; Project Graduate website; WKU Finish website.
Contact: Rebekah Phillips, (270) 745-3575.
WKU News Blog 
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