SIMON PRASER UNIVERSITY
OFFICE FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
AQ 3140-8888 University Drive
TEL:778.782.8924
Burnabv, BC Canada V5A 1S6
FAX: 778.782.8926
MEMORANDUM
ATTENTION
FROM
RE:
Dr. Jon Driver, Vice President-Academic
date
April 23, 2013
and Provost
William G. Lindsay, Director
pages
1/4
Report Answering SFU Senator Sam Black's Questions
www.sfu.ca
S.13-71
Dear Dr. Driver:
This report answers questions recently posed by SFU Senator Dr. Sam Black. Please find attached
an Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) fact sheet concerning Aboriginal student
recruitment/retention/graduation rates at Simon Fraser University.
Senator Black's specific questions are as follows:
1.
Currently, how many Aboriginal students are there at SFU?
While this question would seem straightforward to answer, it is not. I will provide some
background and then provide an answer based on the data available. In March of 2007, the
Ministry ofAboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Intergovernmental and Community
Relations established Government Standards for Aboriginal Administrative Data. Both the K-12
and the post-secondary systems in BC worked to implement the standard, but those changes have
taken some time to implement. In the interim it is evident that not only have there been
differences across the system related to the identification of aboriginal students, there have been
inconsistencies
of practice within SFU. Until recently, the only way to identify Aboriginal
students was by self-report. While self-report remains an important part
of identifying these
students, some data does follow students from the BC K-12 system based on Personal Education
Number (PEN).
In summer 2012, Student Services and IRP met to discuss how to better identify and track our
aboriginal/indigenous students, acknowledging that the historical data we have for this group of
students is not robust and consequently of limited value. With additional information now
reported on the PEN for HS students, and some discussion, a shared definition for what
constitutes an aboriginal student at SFU was arrived at (previously IRP and Student Services had
used different measures).
The attached IRP report is a result of these efforts and therefore is the
first institutional level report that provides baseline measures in we have some confidence. The
updated version of it will be available early May 2013 (once we get this year's high school data).
The attached report refers to the 2010/11 incoming cohort as our "most recent". We have
greater numbers
of aboriginal students currently at SFU than reported here but must await next
month's downloads from the Ministry so that Institutional Research & Planning (IRP) to update
with the 2011/12 cohort data. As a point of interest we are expecting our largest incoming
cohort of Aboriginal students ever at SFU this fall 2013, so clearly these 2 year old numbers will
be quite different going forward.
Simon i-ram;r university
THINKING OF THE WORLD
Student Services and IRP are working togetherto refine this report and the next version will
have a few additional categories that will be important to monitor for the purposes of ensuring
student success. We are confident that the data in these reports going forward will be both valid
and reliable and this trackingwill actively inform recruiting and retention efforts in Student
Services.
For the current information on the number of aboriginal students at SFU please refer to the
attached IPJP feet sheet. The latest formal and complete statistics for Aboriginalstudent headcount
at SFU are from 2010-11. As of that year, there were 547 self-declared Aboriginal students
attending SFU. As outlinedabove, concomitant data from the provincial government - to be
added to SFU data - will soon be received for 2011-12, allowing for revised and complete figures
for that year. Unofficial reports indicate that our Aboriginal student numbers have been increasing
at SFU over the past two years.
2.
Funding:
A)
Two
years ago $150, 000
Indigenous
was allocated
Service
Programs
(to be paid
out
at $50,
per
000
year).
Will
further
funds
be
allocated
after
March
1st, when
2014
the
original
3-year
allocation
is
spent?
Several programsresulted from the $150k allocated from the University Priority Fund (UPF)
some of which have now been embedded into regular programming and others that will require
new funds in order to continue and/or develop. Every effort will be made to secure the funds
needed to continue this work through base and/or alternative sources. Included in these new
services/programs are:
•
Residence and housing bridging fund to enable band funded students to secure residence
through a deposit "loan", while awaiting their funding
• Enhanced access to centre for disabilities resources
•
Enhanced access to academic advising
•
An aboriginal career advisor and related programming and online web presence at
http://www.sfu.ca/olc/indigenous
•
Staff cultural competency training
B)
Are
other
funds
available
for
Aboriginal
strategic
initiatives?
Yes. For example:
•
The operating budget of the Office for Aboriginal Peoples at SFU provides position salary
and funding for the pursuit
ofAboriginal initiatives according to the University's
Aboriginal Strategic Plan.
•
The operating budget of the Indigenous Student Centre at SFU also provides position
salary and funding for the pursuit ofAboriginal student services initiatives according to
Student Services strategic planning and the Aboriginal Strategic Plan for SFU.
• An Indigenous
Recruiter works from Student Services to increase the numbers of
Aboriginal students at SFU.
•
The Vice President, Academic (VPA) funds two entrance scholarships annually for
Aboriginal graduate students (one for a master's, the
other for a PhD student). The VPA
also has provided three years of core funding support — through the University Priorities
Fund - to the Aboriginal Pre-University Bridging Programs (through to 2013-14).
3.
Relative
GPA
and
Retention
Rates ssee
A)
How
do
the
GPA's
of
Indigenous
students
compare
to
those
of
non-Indigenous
students?
Early analysis of aggregate numbers seems to indicate that there is no significant difference
between these cohorts of students.
B)
How
do
the
degree
completion
rates
of
Indigenous
students
compare
to
those
of
non-Indigenous
students?
Early analysis suggests they are comparablegiven the relatively larger number of indigenous
students that transfer from college. More indigenous students come through that route than non-
indigenous so adjusting for that they appear to be comparable.
C)
What
are
the
main
pathways
for
indigenous
students
to
enter
SFU
(e.g.
secondary
education,
college
transfer,
something
else)?
What
are
the
respective
GPA
and
degree
completion
indicators
for
students
in
each
pathway?
For main pathways, please see pages 3-4 of accompanying IRP fact sheet.
Note: GPA and degree completion data for each pathway are currently unavailable.
D)
Are
these
GPA's
and
retention
rates
acceptable
to
the
Administration,
and
if
not
then
what
plans
are
there
to
improve
them?
All academic and administrative units strive to support all students in earning the credential they
are seeking. Retention/attrition (academic standing, completion rates, time to completions, etc.)
is monitored for many groups ofstudents (indigenous, international, athletes, scholarship, college
transfer, HS, etc.).
When any of these groups show indications of academic struggle, further
analysis is conducted and interventions are designed and implemented in attempts to better address
and support particular needs. For example, the back on track program is an example
of a very
successful Institutional response to
poor retention rates noted first in international students. Similar
initiatives would be taken as needed based upon report data.
Student Services at SFU continues to devote more resources to improve Aboriginal student
success, including funding such as that mentioned above in Question 2. The Indigenous Student
Centre continues to devote resources and programming specific to Aboriginal students, including
mentoring programs and tutoring services.
The Elders Program - funded by the Office for Aboriginal Peoples - continues to assist students in
their journeys of education. The program has been expanding and improving since its inception
two years ago.
An Indigenous Graduate Student Support Coordinator and an Assistant arejointly funded by the
Office for Aboriginal Peoples and Graduate
Studies. They network with and provide support in
various ways to Aboriginal graduate students at SFU e.g. promotion of the Supporting Aboriginal
Graduate Enhancement
(SAGE) program and the establishment of relevant workshops.
The creation of the Institutional Research and Planning document, which accompanies this
report, was created with the specific purpose of seeing where improvements are needed regarding
Aboriginal student retention and to follow up on such. This report will be updated annually.
Alternatively,
if
the
relevant
data
not
is
yet
available,
will
it
be
made
available to
Senate,
and
if
so
then
when?
Institutional Research and Planning office, says that the IPJ5 office will be able to provide the
GPA and retention comparison data for sub-questions 1 to 3 (above) in May 2013.
4. Faculty
Resources
The
staff
at
Student
Services
is
given
free
access
to
an8-hour
module
on
Indigenous
Cultural
Competence
(created
by
the
Provincial
Health
Authority).
Can
all
fulltime
staff
and
faculty
be
given
free
access
to
that
module?
The Indigenous Cultural Competency (ICC) is an on-line, self-directed program offered at a cost
of $250 per person. The program has been well received in Student Services and is currendy
being evaluated by Student Services both from the perspective of participants as well as that from
aboriginal members of the SFU community. More information about the course may be found at
the following URL: http://www.culturalcompetencv.ca/. It is advisable that the pilot in Student
Services conclude prior to making a recommendation for expanding access.
Would
the
Administration
consider
funding
joint
positions
in
order
to
allow
smaller
academic
units
—who
cannot
devote
an
entire
position
to
hiring
aspecialist
—to
acquire
teaching
and
research
competence
on
Indigenous
issues?
There have been some initial, and largely informal, discussions between members of the
University
community about the possibility of future growth of this kind i.e. the hiring
of
Aboriginal-oriented support positions jointly shared amongst Faculties. For example, Aboriginal
coordinator positions who would be shared between two Faculties until such a time as there
would be a need for one coordinator in each Faculty.
As well, there has been some discussion with the Teaching and Learning Centre at SFU about the
possibility of establishing workshops for faculty/staff which would deal with Aboriginal cultural
and historical competencies. Teaching and research could certainly be a part
of such an endeavor.
An existing committee - chaired by Dr. Mary-Ellen Kelm, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies -
is currendy examining Indigenous research ethics and templates for such at SFU.
The goal is to
share existing/future templates for such research with the University community.
This concludes this report. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!
Kind regards,
William G. Lindsay (Cree-Stoney)
Director
Office for Aboriginal Peoples
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.3600 | F 778.782.6599 | www.sfu.ca/irp
1
The following report provides information about Aboriginal students who were enroled at SFU in program or course activities.
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Undergraduate
446
491
491
470
463
Graduate
87
71
83
92
84
Total
533
562
574
562
547
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Undergraduate
Female
314
340
331
319
310
Male
132
151
160
151
153
Total
446
491
491
470
463
Graduate
Female
68
55
62
69
63
Male
19
16
21
23
21
Total
87
71
83
92
84
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Undergraduate
<=21
120
149
166
161
156
22 TO 24
91
98
96
97
103
25 TO 29
88
88
90
77
86
30 TO 39
90
78
68
70
75
>=40
57
78
71
65
43
Total
446
491
491
470
463
Undergraduate Average
Age
28.5
28.4
27.6
27.5
26.4
Graduate
22 TO 24
3
7
6
4
4
25 TO 29
9
13
19
23
18
30 TO 39
25
17
23
25
29
>=40
49
34
35
40
33
Unspecified
1
Total
87
71
83
92
84
Graduate Average Age
41.6
39.4
38.1
38.0
38.0
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Profile of Aboriginal Students
Profile of Aboriginal Students
Gender
Undergraduate/Graduate Headcount
Age Groupings
Female
(68%)
Male
(32%)
Average 5 Year
Undergraduate
Gender Breakdown
Female
(76%)
Male
(24%)
Average 5 Year
Graduate
Gender Breakdown
27%
30%
34%
34%
34%
20%
20%
20%
21%
22%
20%
18%
18%
16%
19%
20%
16%
14%
15%
16%
13%
16%
14%
14%
9%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Undergraduate Age Groupings
<=21
22 TO 24
25 TO 29
30 TO 39
>=40
10%
18%
23%
25%
21%
29%
24%
28%
27%
35%
56%
48%
42%
43%
39%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Graduate Age Groupings
22 TO 24
25 TO 29
30 TO 39
>=40
0
200
400
600
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Undergraduate/Graduate Headcount
Undergraduate
Graduate
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.3600 | F 778.782.6599 | www.sfu.ca/irp
2
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Profile of Aboriginal Students
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Undergraduate
Applied Sciences
8
11
14
17
21
Arts and Social Sciences
301
330
314
293
258
Beedie Sch. of Business
12
17
24
21
19
Comm., Art & Tech.
25
26
28
30
29
Education
48
42
39
38
56
Environment
14
16
23
17
21
Health Sciences
-
4
11
15
18
Science
38
44
38
40
40
Unspecified
-
2
1
1
3
Total
446
491
491
470
463
Graduate
Applied Sciences
3
4
2
3
3
Arts and Social Sciences
15
18
16
16
16
Beedie Sch. of Business
5
3
7
8
7
Comm., Art & Tech.
1
2
2
2
2
Education
52
31
43
49
42
Environment
5
5
2
3
3
Health Sciences
1
4
5
5
5
Science
5
4
6
6
6
Total
87
71
83
92
84
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Bachelors
61
87
61
82
67
Masters
23
11
8
8
19
Doctorates
4
3
Post Baccal. Diplomas
2
2
2
4
Graduate Diplomas
4
1
3
2
1
Certificates
17
16
23
23
20
PDP Completed
23
29
19
17
9
Total
130
146
120
135
120
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Summer
8.8
9.0
7.9
8.4
8.2
Fall
11.3
10.8
10.4
10.3
11.1
Spring
10.8
10.0
10.4
10.5
11.0
Credentials Earned
Enrolment by Faculty
Average Course Load (credit hours)
Undergraduate Aboriginal Students
47%
60%
51%
61%
56%
13%
11%
19%
17%
18%
20%
16%
13%
17%
8%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Credentials Earned
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorates
Post Baccal. Diplomas
Graduate Diplomas
Certificates
PDP Completed
21
258
19
29
56
21
18
40
3
0
100
200
300
Applied
Sciences
Arts and Social
Sciences
Beedie Sch. of
Business
Comm., Art &
Tech.
Education
Environment
Health Sciences
Science
Unspecified
Undergraduate Aboriginal Enrolment for 2010-11
3
16
7
2
42
3
5
6
0
15
30
45
Applied Sciences
Arts and Social
Sciences
Beedie Sch. of
Business
Comm., Art &
Tech.
Education
Environment
Health Sciences
Science
Graduate Aboriginal Enrolment for 2010-11
6
8
10
12
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Average Credit Hours
Summer
Fall
Spring
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.3600 | F 778.782.6599 | www.sfu.ca/irp
3
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Profile of Aboriginal Students
Admission Year
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
Retention Rate
yr 1 to yr 2
69%
81%
74%
78%
77%
yr 1 to yr 3
59%
64%
64%
69%
yr 1 to yr 4
55%
62%
58%
yr 1 to yr 5
56%
61%
Note: Please see footnote 4 at the end of this report for interpretation
of retention rate.
Admission Year
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
Retention Rate
yr 1 to yr 2
69%
81%
74%
78%
77%
yr 2 to yr 3
78%
79%
85%
88%
yr 3 to yr 4
93%
90%
92%
yr 4 to yr 5
96%
92%
Note: Please see footnote 4 at the end of this report for interpretation of rolling retention rate.
Completion Year
Basis of Admission Group
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
All Students
4.0
4.1
4.8
5.1
5.2
High School Students
5.1
6.0
5.1
4.9
6.1
College Transfers
2.7
3.0
2.9
4.3
4.0
Note: Please see footnote 5 at the end of this report for interpretation
of time to completion.
Admission Year
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
High School Students
4-yr Graduation Rate
12.0%
11.5%
11.5%
3.2%
9.3%
5-yr Graduation Rate
24.0%
50.0%
42.3%
29.0%
6-yr Graduation Rate
32.0%
57.7%
46.2%
7-yr Graduation Rate
40.0%
65.4%
College Transfer Students
4-yr Graduation Rate
58.7%
48.7%
43.1%
39.6%
40.4%
5-yr Graduation Rate
67.4%
52.6%
47.7%
47.2%
6-yr Graduation Rate
69.6%
53.9%
53.8%
7-yr Graduation Rate
69.6%
55.3%
All Students
4-yr Graduation Rate
38.1%
35.8%
30.6%
27.0%
24.6%
5-yr Graduation Rate
46.4%
47.5%
40.5%
40.4%
6-yr Graduation Rate
50.0%
50.8%
45.0%
7-yr Graduation Rate
52.4%
53.3%
Note: Please see footnote 6 at the end of this report for interpretation of graduation rate.
Rolling Retention Rate
Time to Completion (years)
Graduation Rate
Retention Rate
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Retention Rate (yr 1 to yr 2)
0
2
4
6
8
10
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Time to Completion (years)
All Students
High School Students
College Transfers
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
Graduation Rate for All Students by
Admission Year
4-yr Rate
5-yr Rate
6-yr Rate
7-yr Rate
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.3600 | F 778.782.6599 | www.sfu.ca/irp
4
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Profile of Aboriginal Students
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
B.C. College Transfer
182
176
184
172
164
B.C. Grade 12
109
132
133
142
142
Mature
71
81
67
54
42
Degree Holder
29
24
26
29
38
University Transfer
18
29
26
27
27
Non B.C. High School
11
16
17
12
10
Technical Program
3
4
5
5
4
Other
23
29
33
29
36
Total
446
491
491
470
463
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
B.C. College Transfer
46
44
45
50
36
B.C. Grade 12
30
47
32
32
27
Degree Holder
12
8
16
16
20
Mature
6
14
13
9
12
University Transfer
7
13
7
2
7
Non B.C. High School
1
7
3
4
1
Technical Program
-
4
2
-
-
Other
-
10
11
6
8
Total
102
147
129
119
111
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Douglas College
54
51
65
57
62
Kwantlen Polytech. Univ.
28
28
30
31
27
Langara College
22
25
22
19
18
Capilano Univ.
19
14
14
15
16
Nicola Valley Inst of Tech
10
11
11
9
8
Univ. of the Fraser Valley
7
11
8
9
5
Thompson Rivers Univ.
11
5
4
3
2
Northern Lights College
7
4
6
5
3
Vancouver Island Univ.
5
6
2
4
6
Okanagan College
4
6
4
3
5
Other B.C. PSIs
15
15
18
17
12
Total
182
176
184
172
164
Note: The numbers for Nicola Valley Inst of Tech include those from
Institute of Indigenous Government as well.
Basis of Admission for New Students
Top Ten Post-Secondary Institutions
Where All BC College Transfers are Enroling From
Basis of Admission for All Students (New and Continuing)
Douglas
College
(33%)
Kwantlen
Polytech.
Univ. (16%)
Langara
College
(12%)
Average 5 Year Top Ten
PSIs Breakdown for All Students
Douglas College (33%)
Kwantlen Polytech. Univ.
(16%)
Langara College (12%)
Capilano Univ. (9%)
Nicola Valley Inst of Tech
(6%)
Univ. of the Fraser Valley
(5%)
Thompson Rivers Univ.
(3%)
Northern Lights College
(3%)
Vancouver Island Univ.
(3%)
Okanagan College (3%)
Other B.C. PSIs (9%)
B.C. College
Transfer
(37%)
B.C. Grade
12 (28%)
Mature
(13%)
Average 5 Year Basis of Admission Breakdown for
All Students(New and Continuing)
B.C. College Transfer (37%)
B.C. Grade 12 (28%)
Mature (13%)
Degree Holder (6%)
University Transfer (5%)
Non B.C. High School (3%)
Technical Program (1%)
Other (6%)
B.C. College
Transfer
(36%)
B.C. Grade
12 (28%)
Degree
Holder (12%)
Average 5 Year Basis of Admission Breakdown
for New Students
B.C. College Transfer (36%)
B.C. Grade 12 (28%)
Degree Holder (12%)
Mature (9%)
University Transfer (6%)
Non B.C. High School (3%)
Technical Program (1%)
Other (6%)
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.3600 | F 778.782.6599 | www.sfu.ca/irp
5
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Profile of Aboriginal Students
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Coquitlam
25
28
31
31
31
Surrey
15
24
21
26
29
Burnaby
11
14
14
15
16
Vancouver
9
8
11
10
12
Langley
3
7
11
10
10
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows
3
3
4
9
10
Delta
3
3
4
4
3
New Westminster
4
5
4
2
2
Richmond
1
4
4
4
3
Abbotsford
1
2
3
5
3
Other B.C. SDs
34
34
26
26
23
Total
109
132
133
142
142
Where All Aboriginal High School Students are Enroling From
Top Ten School Districts
Coquitlam
(22%)
Surrey
(17%)
Burnaby
(11%)
Other B.C.
SDs (22%)
Average 5 Year Top Ten School Districts
Breakdown for All Students
Coquitlam (22%)
Surrey (17%)
Burnaby (11%)
Vancouver (8%)
Langley (6%)
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows (4%)
Delta (3%)
New Westminster (3%)
Richmond (2%)
Abbotsford (2%)
Other B.C. SDs (22%)
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.3600 | F 778.782.6599 | www.sfu.ca/irp
6
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Profile of Aboriginal Students
Notes:
1. The numbers in this report are based on the most recent available data from self-declaration and other sources. Therefore,
numbers may change slightly when new report is published.
2. International students are excluded from this report.
3. The latest report is one year behind current fiscal year since one of our sources is one year behind. This report is updated on
October 2, 2012.
4. Retention Rate and Rolling Retention Rate: The methodology is the same for each year, but using 2006-07 as an example, the
following applies: the cohort under consideration consists of all new undergraduate students admitted in the 2006-07 fiscal year
(Summer 2006, Fall 2006, Spring 2007), who were in a degree program in their first term (exchange and irregular students are
excluded.) The "Year 1 to Year 2 Retention Rate" or "Year 1 to Year 2 Rolling Retention Rate" is then the percentage of these
students who either registered at SFU during their second year (terms 4, 5, and 6 following admission), or else graduated with an
SFU undergraduate degree by the end of their second year (term 6 following admission). For subsequent years:
i) the "Retention Rate" always looks at the original cohort (new undergraduate students who were admitted in the 2006-07 fiscal
year), and then gives the percentage of that group who were still retained in subsequent years. For example, the "Year 1 to Year 4
Retention Rate" answers this question: of the new 2006-07 admits, what percentage were still retained in year 4 (either registered
at SFU during their fourth year -- terms 10, 11, and 12 following admission, or else graduated with an SFU undergraduate degree by
the end of their fourth year -- term 12 following admission)?
ii) the "Rolling Retention Rate" looks at the students who were retained (registered or graduated) up to a certain year, and then
gives the percentage of that group who were still retained in the following year. For example, the "Year 3 to Year 4 Rolling
Retention Rate" answers this question: of the new 2006-07 admits who were retained to year 3 (either still registered or
graduated), what percentage were still retained in year 4?
Note that students admitted later than 2009-10 have not yet been here long enough to report on their retention rates.
5. Time to completion: the average elapsed years from students' first term as an undergraduate student at SFU to their completion
term. Time to completion is calculated separately by students' bases of admission: i) high school admits, ii) college transfer students
and iii) students of all admission bases, including high school admits, college transfers and other groups. The average time to
completion is calculated on students who received their first SFU undergraduate degree within a given fiscal year.
6. Graduation rate: the percentage of students who graduated within a given time frame. Taking 4-year graduation rate for 2006-07
as an example, the cohort under consideration consists of all new undergraduate students admitted in the 2006-07 fiscal year
(Summer 2006, Fall 2006, Spring 2007), who were in a degree program in their first term (exchange and irregular students are
excluded.) The 4-year graduation rate is then the percentage of these students who graduated with an SFU undergraduate degree
by the end of their fourth year (term 12 following admission). Graduation rate is calculated separately by students' bases of
admission: i) high school admits, ii) college transfer students and iii) students of all admission bases, including high school admits,
college transfers and other groups. The graduation rate is calculated on students who received their first SFU undergraduate
degree within the given time frame.
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