By Nick Pandolfo

Low college graduation rates are a hot topic of discussion in America, with frequent mention of the fact that we’re falling behind other countries. As more nontraditional students attend college and the cost of higher education continues to rise, the challenges for those trying to obtain a degree continue to grow. To address these issues, President Barack Obama has made improving college graduation rates a centerpiece of his education policy, with a particular focus on the country's community colleges.

Kai Drekmeier, co-founder and president of InsideTrack, a company that provides coaching for students at universities around the country, sat down with The Hechinger Report recently to discuss issues ranging from how to improve college graduation rates to how the culture of higher education may affect progress in this area.