Students learned a way to make their college experience short and sweet Wednesday night.

Josh Hayes, EIU4 coordinator, spoke to a group of students in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union about a new program that will allow them to graduate in four years.

EIU4 guarantees freshmen will graduate college in four years with minimal requirements, or Eastern will pay the cost of the students’ tuition.

Those allowed to sign up for the program must be enrolled in an eligible educational program and must be first-time, full-time freshmen planning to graduate in the year 2006.

Hayes focused on three main reasons students should sign up for the program.

“One, the program increases the number of students that graduate; two, the program decreases the cost of your schooling; and three, the program makes an effort to increase the freshman/sophomore retention rate,” Hayes said.

At the beginning of the presentation, students were handed a small packet of papers giving students reasons to consider the EIU4 program, how to apply for the program, eligibility information and contact information.

“EIU4 is seeking ways in which our students can reach their educational goals in an affordable program,” explained Kimberlie Moock, director of orientation.

She went on to say that the program is just “one more way we are showing our students that we care about their education, that we care about their goals.”

It takes the average Eastern student 4.7 years to graduate and, with cooperation and EIU4’s motivational check-ups, a program participant can be out of school in no time, Hayes said.

For more information on the program, visit the EIU4’s Web site at www.eiu.edu/~eiufour, or contact Hayes by phone at 581-8373.