About eight years ago, California State University, Long Beach started work on a faculty development program to increase student success in courses with low completion rates. Many of these courses were “bottleneck” courses that slowed students’ progress toward their degrees. Completion rates in some of these courses have increased from 50 percent to 80 percent since the program began.
Not Just a No-Show: Understanding Faculty Absence at Graduation
Each spring, university campuses are spruced up: Lawns are mowed and stages assembled, and rows of chairs fill the arena. Graduation is a time-honored tradition, celebrating students’ hard work and
Heidi Hillman
July 21, 2025
