Just having it in circulation benefits all undergraduates. It strengthens and deepens their involvement in the advising process. It helps motivate them to focus on long-term course planning, rather than simply building the next semester around convenient hours. Best of all, it has spurred departments and colleges to see that each semester's course offerings help students finished on schedule. There is no magic, though, in putting everyone on a four-year timetable.
College is a priceless opportunity for learning, self-discovery, and exploration.
No student should be shackled to a commitment that precludes internships, study-abroad opportunities, or switching to a more desirable major. Even though these figures don't reflect 4-year graduates who transfer in or out, or who take only a semester or so longer to finish, they are still disappointing. But that's not good enough.