University of Hawaii graduation rates rise even during coronavirus pandemic

Graduation rates rose at most of the University of Hawaii’s 10 campuses this year, with UH-Manoa reaching a record high, despite the coronavirus pandemic and the sudden switch to online learning.

Meanwhile, even amid soaring unemployment and battered family finances, 80% of UH-Manoa students who started as freshmen in the fall of 2019 returned this year as sophomores. That’s close to the record 81.1% retention figure notched last year.

“The continuing improvement in UH graduation rates, even in the face of the COVID-19 disruptions in the last academic year, is a credit to the work of our dedicated faculty, staff and leaders,” UH President David Lassner said in a statement Friday. “More than a decade ago, administrators at the system and campus levels made this a priority and began to identify and remove barriers to timely graduation, and that work continues.”

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/11/27/hawaii-news/university-of-hawaii-graduation-rates-rise-even-during-pandemic/