Concordia University in Seward, Neb. has begun offering a guarantee graduation program to help students fulfill all their requirements needed for graduation in a set period of time, according to the university’s website.
If they are able to fulfill their requirements but are unable to graduate on time, the school says it will cover the extra cost required.
“The bottom line: If you follow your plan but aren’t able to graduate on time, we will cover the cost of any additional courses you take or we’ll provide acceptable course substitutions,” according Concordia University’s website.
“Concordia’s plan ensures that students and parents know from the beginning how long it will take to complete a degree and get a handle on the tuition they can expect to pay,” said school provost Jenny Mueller-Roebke in a press release.
“Every student goes through the process of putting together a plan. In the rare case that a student can’t graduate on time because of our error, we promise to make things right, even if it costs us money.”
While “on time” for most students involves graduating in four years, the university also tailors programs to meet the individual needs of a student if they need to graduate earlier or later, according to the school’s website.
The University of Regina has been offering a similar-style tuition payment program for two years. If students are unable to find secure employment within six months after graduation, the university will pay for an additional year of education, according to a press release.
The program at the University of Regina is created to help students prepare for work beyond university, said Naomi Deren, manager of the University of Regina Guarantee Team.
“[The program] involves building their skills [related to their major] and identifying what those skills are,” Deren said.
“We’ve designed the fourth year for students to be able to fine-tune their job finding skills,” Deren said.
Students begin meeting with counselors from the time they enter into university, Deren said.
