Committing to Student Success

This statewide effort, called “Commit to Complete,” asks students to do four things to earn their degree on time: 1) meet with their advisor, 2) make a plan for their coursework, 3) stay on schedule, and 4) graduate on time. By committing to complete, students can minimize their debt, enter the workforce sooner, and help us grow Nebraska for the future.

Commit to Complete benefits us all. It is good for students and families, who are working hard to invest in their education. They deserve to know that our colleges and universities will help them be successful and keep their costs down. Commit to Complete is also good for Nebraska business owners, who depend on graduates of our community colleges, state colleges, and the University of Nebraska to fill their jobs.

And finally, Commit to Complete is also good for Nebraska. If we are going to grow our state, we need to help people take the great opportunities here, set families up to be financially independent, and bring more skilled degree graduates into our workforce. By encouraging students to earn their degrees as quickly as possible, we can accelerate their transition into a rewarding career.

Our colleges and universities are working to make Commit to Complete a reality for students and families by improving retention and graduation rates. For example, our post-secondary institutions offer creative pathway programs that keep students on target to earn a degree, whether they start at a community college or four-year institution. Our colleges and universities have also taken steps to limit the number of credit hours required to earn a degree. Additionally, they are strengthening their advising and student support services.

I commend the leaders of Nebraska’s public higher education institutions for working together on these solutions. Nebraskans expect our colleges and universities to partner together to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness. I’m pleased to see their close cooperation to help students graduate on time.