Detours and delays often alter the path to graduation these days for many college students. While faster, more direct routes are available, students often don't see them, according to advisers at the University of California, Davis, who this fall have launched a pilot program designed to help undergraduates complete their degrees in four years. "We are very sensitive to the impact rising fees have had on families, and we want to assure students and parents that it is possible to finish in four years," said Carol Wall, associate dean of the UC Davis College of Letters and Science and the program's architect. This year's incoming class at UC Davis is hearing about the program, called "Finish in Four," through fliers and informational meetings coordinated through the Office of the Provost. The program's thrust is to encourage more students to take advantage of academic advisers on campus. Faculty and staff advisers explain which courses are required, and in what sequence, for completion of majors and for graduation. The graduation rates of students who enter UC Davis as first-year students are among the highest in the University of California. At the same time these rates have climbed, however, the percentage of students taking more than 12 academic quarters to graduate has increased in recent years, a trend experienced by the UC system as a whole. The traditional time to degree is 12 quarters, with three quarters each year. Currently, the average time to degree at UC Davis is 13.2 quarters. Often students become lost in a maze of choices and fail to take the courses they need at the appropriate times, or they experience several false starts, said Wall. Seeing advisers early and often can help, and that's what the campus encourages through Finish in Four. "Davis is ahead of the other campuses in the system on this issue," said Peter Dale, acting vice provost for academic programs and acting dean for undergraduate education. "We think it is worthwhile to say very clearly to incoming students, 'It's all right to graduate in four years and we'll do everything we can to help you achieve that goal.'" Finish in Four is not for every student, according to Wall. Students may wish to take internships, enroll in additional courses, become heavily involved in campus and community extracurricular activities, spend time studying abroad or investigate various academic options. In addition, students may have to work or tend to various family obligations. In these and other cases, students may choose to take longer than four years to graduate, said Wall. What's important for students starting now to know is that they can finish in four years and that the campus will help them reach that goal if they want, she said. Earlier in the summer Wall met with incoming students and parents, and discussed the program. "The response from the parents has been very positive."