The University of Southern Florida just posted its dismal report on graduating rates, saying only 48% of students graduate with a bachelor's degree in six  years.

This rate is much lower than the expected national average of 55% at public colleges. Typically, private colleges have higher graduation rates due to a host of factors, not the least of which is cost to remain an additional year.

To address the situation, USF has announced it will put in place an aggressive plan to help students graduate within 6 years. The goal is to graduate 63% of students in each class by 2012. So what does the plan entail? 

Some of the action steps include recruiting students more likely to graduate on time and providing more academic services to students who are at risk of dropping out. However, many may be surprised to find some atypical approaches to student retention.

One of these approaches is alcohol awareness classes for Freshman students. The classes will be required, which is typical at a number of colleges and universities already. Other institutions ask students to complete the course online before they can officially enroll in classes. The course includes educational information about the risks of consuming too much alcohol. 

The policy comes at a time when many say lower drinking ages could be the solution to a number of problems caused by clandestine drinking. Today, more college-age students die each year from alcohol poisoning than from alcohol-related car accidents. Further, prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions at college campuses while the same issue plagues the country. 

Despite the complicated host of alcohol and drug related problems, USF believes education may be the answer. The school also hopes to provide services such as mentorship and counseling to those students in need. It is unclear how many students likely drop out of school due to alcohol-related problems in a given year. However, faculty and staff believe less alcohol consumption will lead to more academic motivation, better grades and less risky behavior. 

If the alcohol counseling classes succeed in increasing graduation rates for USF, you can plan on seeing similar policies introduced at large public institutions nationwide. These schools are all seeking greater prestige to drive enrollment and bring in profits. Higher graduation rates can increase these potential benefits.