Across the nation, education is becoming easier and USI is wrongfully joining in the process.

This year, College Board announced changes to the SAT that will make the test easier to pass. The test will now have a maximum score of 1600 as opposed to 2400. The penalty for guessing has been eliminated, as has the essay. The math is being replaced with easier problems and the vocabulary words are less archaic.

In a generation where standards are changing to accommodate a lazier population of students, shortcuts are being made to help students not only succeed, but to succeed in a timely manner.

This fall, USI is making the wrong decision of implementing a new core. The new core will require incoming classes, starting with the class of 2018, to complete only 39 credits as opposed to 50 credits.

Schools across the nation struggle to maintain student retention numbers, and it’s no secret that USI is one of them. With a 67 percent retention rate and only a 16 percent four-year graduation rate,  the new core is nothing more than an attempt to boost its numbers.

With fewer core classes, students will have more time to focus on their majors. While I recognize this can be a good thing in today’s society, as it provides students with a more in-depth knowledge and preparation for their particular future, I believe it’s simply the justification, not the reason, for the new changes.

The more a student focuses on their major, the more likely he is going to enjoy the education he is receiving. This will lead to an increase in USI’s retention rate.

With fewer core classes, USI will have a better opportunity of moving its students through in four years, which, obviously, leads to a higher four-year graduation rate.

With an increase in both its retention and four-year graduation rates, USI not only looks more appealing to potential applicants, it looks like a more competitive institution that must be doing something right.

While higher numbers that lead to higher enrollment looks good, they are being achieved in the wrong manner. By cutting core classes, USI is shifting more into a vocational school as opposed to a university that provides a well-rounded education.

If the university spent more time shifting into a 24-hour campus, for example, it would be more likely to strengthen its retention number. There are more than one way to boost USI’s ratings without sacrificing its education, but like today’s generation, USI is choosing the easiest way possible.