UW-Madison Pre-College Prep Program Criticized For Low Graduation Rates

A recent report from Education Northwest shows students who enroll at the University of Wisconsin-Madison after completing one pre-college prep program are 37 percent less likely to graduate in four years compared to the schools overall graduation rate.

Since 1999, the PEOPLE program has brought students from disadvantaged backgrounds to the UW campus to give them a first hand look at what college is like.

University officials commissioned the outside group to evaluate the program.

UW spokeswoman Meredith McGlone said the bleak graduation rates are a challenge, but the scope of the program goes beyond UW-Madison.

“I think the other thing you need to look at though is that not everybody who participates in the PEOPLE pre-college program even comes to UW-Madison for college. This is also an important supplier of diverse student populations to other schools and colleges,” she said.

McGlone said the UW has already begun taking the first steps to better the program.

The report suggests the program focus on providing college prep for children from low-income families rather than recruiting participants based on academic merit.