Name of Report: Common Data Set 2000-2001
Organizational Affiliation: University of Rhode Island
Author: University of Rhode Island
Date: January 22, 2001
Contact Information: University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI 02881
401-874-1000
http://www.uri.edu
Pages: 31
Content Summary
As part of a collaborative effort by data collectors in higher education, the University of Rhode Island has compiled an institutional report in an effort to assist students' transition into higher education. Reported statistics include graduation rates, admission requirements, annual expenses, student demographics, financial aid, and degrees conferred. This report also contains a glossary of data terms.
Major Findings
Of the total degree -seeking undergraduate students (as of October 2000) 7,963 students are White, 415 students are Black, 404 students are Hispanic, 380 students are Asian, 60 students are nonresident aliens, 56 students are American Indian, and 1,369 students did not report their race or ethnicity. Only 614 of the original 1,923 full-time first-time bachelor degree seeking students completed the program in four years or less; 379 of full-time first-time bachelor degree seeking students completed the program in five years or less; 94 completed the program in six years or less. The total amount of students graduating in six years or less was 1,087. The University of Rhode Island reports the full-time bachelor degree seeking student six-year graduation rate as 57 percent. The University reports its freshman retention rate as 78 percent.
Unaddressed Issues Or Concerns
Although reported statistics such as those in this report by the University of Rhode Island can provide a useful summary of an institution, they should be supplemented by data that explains the numbers. For example, the University of Rhode Island reports having 415 degree and non-degree seeking Black students, less than four percent of the total student population, but does not attempt to explain this disparity. Research has shown that school districts, often in impoverished areas with a high minority population, who receive inadequate funding and educational resources are less able to prepare their students for higher education. (JBHE 31) Furthermore, the racial scoring gap on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) continues to persist as the scores of African-Americans are still far below the scores of their White and Asian peers. (JBHE 85) The University of Rhode Island indicates the SAT is required in order to apply for admission. In order to address issues of disparity and get an accurate sense of the state of a university explanatory information must supplement statistics in reports such as the Common Data Set.
Reference List
"News and Views: Ranking the States in Their Educational Expenditures to Prepare Black Students for College". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education . 16 (1997):30-32.
"Special Report: The SAT as a Major Roadblock to Black Students' Aspirations to Higher Education". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education . 29 (2000): 85-99.
How to Access Report
http://autocrat.uri.edu/505.html