<p>It is easy to put down a school like CSU, citing low average ACT scores, low graduation rates, etc. The thing is, though, that schools like CSU are “access” schools, committed to providing access to higher education for students who would not be able to be admitted elsewhere. This means that such schools are going to admit the less-than-stellar students. The key is, though, that they must put programs in place to help the students to handle the rigors of college. It is a sad truth that these students come from an education system that has failed them. As a transfer institution, this means that not only has the K-12 system not done its job, but the CC system has also not worked as it should. It can certainly be argued that the CC’s can only do so much in the short time they are given, after the K-12 system wasted years of the students’ lives. If 20% of the students graduate in 6 years, then the school is helping those students who would otherwise not have a chance at college. How good is the degree? I don’t know … but the fact that not everyone is graduating means there are standards in place.</p>
<p>We, meaning society at large, must figure out a way to educate all of our students K-12 adequately … meaning that the fact a student lives on the south side of Chicago or in Detroit doesn’t mean the kid is destined to an inferior education just because that is where she is unlucky enough to live. Once we do this, then we can debate the merits of a school like CSU. Until that time, CSU and similar schools are going to exist, trying to find a way to provide higher education to students who desperately want to improve their lives.</p>