College students in Florida need to graduate more quickly while chasing degrees in fields where jobs exist, according to the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida.
Marshall Criser III has led the nation’s second largest university system since January of 2014.
Speaking to the Economic Club of Florida Thursday, Criser said several of the state’s 12 public universities have a four year graduation rate of only 40 percent, meaning students spend more time in school, incur more debt and have fewer years to earn money in the workforce.
He added that universities need to do a better job of proactively counseling students to keep them on track toward a degree.
“We want to make sure that while a student is there, we are connecting the dots. That we are doing the mentoring and the internships and the advising that helps the students take the things they are interested in and passionate about, and develop a career around them,” Crisler told the audience.
Criser said universities should continue to offer a wide range of degree choices, but they should also guide students toward those job fields where careers exist.
Additionally, he said even during good budget times, it is important to prove that funding public universities is a good investment of taxpayer money.
