Mercer will pay up if students don’t graduate in 4 years

Mercer University officials say they’re concerned about the tendency in recent years for undergraduate students to take longer than four years to get a degree and have announced a program to reverse the trend.

Brian Dalton, Mercer’s vice president for enrollment management, said the Macon school’s new four-year pledge will help students get through college faster. They say it will allow students to avoid running up the cost of a college education and to get into the job market sooner.

Beginning with the freshman class of 2009, students who do their work, pass their classes and follow the advice of faculty advisers will graduate within four years.

If a student does not graduate within that time frame, the cost of whatever additional courses are required will be absorbed by the university.

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Information from: The Macon Telegraph, http://www.macontelegraph.com