An Associated Press story this weekend reminds me of just one more reason the Red Wolves For Christ campus ministry and others like it are so important! 

The story says: "Less than 40 percent of students who enroll in Arkansas public universities obtain a degree within six years, according to a new state report. ...[The report] said 4,333 of the 11,527 students who enrolled in four-year public universities in 2004 had graduated from those schools by 2009. That’s a graduation rate of only 38 percent."

This report begs these questions: 1) Why do so many university students leave college without graduating, and 2) Of the students who manage to graduate, what forces are at play in causing them to stay and finish?

Of course, there are tons of reasons why a student would leave without graduating. And there are numerous reasons why 38% hang on and finish. But I believe one of the most important reasons students hang on is because of the relationships they form outside the classroom. And I believe one of the primary reasons so many students drop out is because they never developed any meaningful school-related relationships.

Now, there are lots of ways these relationships might form--randomly becoming roommates, band,choir, or drama groups, Greek organizations, or students who connect through the same major or a mutual workplace are a few of the big ones.  But at ASU, one of the biggest ways for students to connect is through our religious organizations like RWFC.

ASU and the religious organizations have a symbiotic relationship: we wouldn't be here without ASU, but ASU recognizes that without us, their ability to retain students would be less effective, since so many students bond with each other through religious groups like ours. Through our 40-plus-year history, RWFC has played a huge role in the formation of literally hundreds of marriages, friendships, mentoring relationships, and more.

The bottom line is that religious organizations like RWFC play a huge role in the life of the university by helping students connect with each other and with the campus as a whole. And I am so thankful to be working with a university that realizes and recognizes that.  Sadly, many universities don't.

But, then again, with only 38% of the university students in Arkansas graduating within six years, we all have our work cut out for us.

Chris Buxton