PUT EMPHASIS ON COLLEGE ACCESSIBILITY

Missouri's state universities are working to improve graduation rates. It is all part of a plan where the institutions must choose an enrollment standard and then match the standard to graduation rates.

Southeast Missouri State University chose to be moderately selective in its enrollment requirements, which means its graduation goal is 55 percent.

The university has made progress since 1992 in improving graduation rates. About 45 percent of Southeast's full-time freshmen who entered Southeast in 1992 graduated from here or another public college in Missouri within six years. That's up from just 40 percent for the 1989 class.

The university is working to improve its retention of students. It makes sense that if students stay longer, Southeast's goal of 10,000 students may be more attainable.

But numbers don't always tell the whole story. Missouri and its universities must be careful not to lose sight of the people in this balance sheet.

Southeast has always been very accessible to the region. Its reach has been stronger in recent years as the university has opened satellite operations in towns scattered throughout its sprawling service area.

And that means more people can take classes, whether they plan to earn a full degree or not. Some people may enroll for personal betterment. Others may take a class or two to help their employment opportunities.

As the university reaches out to more non-traditional students, the time frame of earning a college degree while going to class may be longer than six years.

Many state universities are well below graduation targets. Only the University of Missouri at Columbia is at its 65 percent graduation-rate goal for selective enrollment standards. At 71 percent, Truman State University is close to its 75 percent graduation rate goal for its highly selective enrollment.

But the opportunity for college should not be limited to only academic achievers who seem destined to succeed. College is not a guaranteed right, but it should be an opportunity open to more than just a privileged few.

Southeast is right to help students make the most of their college experience. Their efforts are likely to help many students earn their degrees.

But there should still be room for others who never intend to walk down the aisle with a cap and gown.