The UW System has done well on its goal of producing more graduates than ever before, while falling short on enrolling, retaining and graduating students of color.
That’s according to the System’s annual report on its progress in key areas.
A record number of students — 175,056 — enrolled in the UW System in 2007-2008. The largest number of students — 32,475 — also graduated.
But graduation rates for African American, American Indian, Southeast Asian, and Hispanic/Latino students were below target. While 65 percent of students graduated within six years of entering the UW System, only 33 percent of African Americans graduated and 41.5 percent of American Indians.
Here are some other figures:
• The UW System met its goal of serving 32 percent of all Wisconsin high school graduates. But only 15 percent of African Americans, 20 percent of Hispanic/Latinos, and 22 percent of American Indian students from Wisconsin high schools enrolled.
• Students of color increased from 9.8 percent in fall 2007 to 10.3 percent in fall 2008.
• The number of low-income students also increased slightly. Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants increased from 20 percent in 2006-2007 to 21 percent in 2007-2008.
• The percent of students who stayed in school after their freshman year was not at UW System’s goal level of 82 percent. About 79 percent of new freshman stayed. African-American new freshman had the lowest retention rate, at 67.4 percent.
• UW System also did not meet its goal of reducing energy use per square foot in campus facilities by 10 percent in 2008. Energy consumption was 2.6 percent lower than 2005.

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