In addition to a need for more sections for key classes, Kendell said, many students are left trying to navigate their college careers without help from advisers. In some schools, Kendell estimated there is only one counselor for every 500 students, a situation that leaves many students dragging on for years taking the wrong classes and switching majors.

"Some of the counseling ratios in this state are pretty wild. It's pretty hard to get direction on a program if there's no one there to talk you through it," Kendell said.

Garrett Clark, who will be graduating this week from the U., said his political science degree took him seven years to finish, mostly because of a lack of access to advisers. Although Clark served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and some time in the military, those setbacks were nothing compared to the frustration of "bad counseling, bad advice and a lack of concern," he said.

"The school really could have expedited it. I was taking classes I had no business taking — all-around bad advice from counselors," he said.

State higher education leaders tried to get $5 million in legislative funding this year for a student success initiative to boost the number of advisers and course sections for high-demand classes. That funding didn't come through, however, and Kendell said schools are unable to come up with the money on their own.

John Francis, U. senior associate vice president for academic affairs, said many of the obstacles to reach graduation in four years often come from the students themselves. An increasing number of students are getting dual majors, he said, trying to prepare for a job market that demands versatility.

Many students at the U. also work part time to pay for tuition, he said.

Working while earning a diploma is also a main source of delay for students at SLCC, where most of the students take on jobs while in school.

Deneece Huftalin, SLCC vice president for student services, said the school has tried to streamline the process for students, installing a new online program that allows students to plug in their desired degree and what classes they've already taken. The program then tells them exactly what classes they need to get there, she said.

"We try very hard not to suggest you can do it in two years. Calling an associate degree a two-year degree is kind of a misnomer," she said. "That's just a reality for us."

---

E-mail: estewart@desnews.com