Sacramento State President Proposes Incentives To Fix 9 Percent On-Time Graduation Rate

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The new president of Sacramento State announced plans for cash incentives to help students graduate on time.

Currently, only 9 percent of students graduate on time from the school. President Robert Nelsen says it's been an issue for years, and he's made it his top priority.

"We will be spending every dollar we receive, so there is no margin for error," he said.

Nelsen announced plans for cash incentives to help students graduate on time, including a $500 tuition credit for taking 15 credit hours in a semester and a $1,000 credit for six credit hours in the summer.

"A 9 percent graduation for our 4-year students is unacceptable," he said. "A 46 percent graduation rate for our six-year students isn't unacceptable either."

He says Sacramento State will hire a graduation czar and additional faculty advisers. More money will go to teacher raises and to add new classes online and in the summer.

A big chunk of money is set aside for capital projects, including deferred maintenance.

The new big man on campus says the time for excuses is over.