Editorial: Enrolling in school, leaving without a degree

Education can be expensive, but so can the lack of a degree. And the longer it takes students to get an associate degree or higher, the more likely it is that they’ll quit before graduation.

Today, more Texans are enrolled in two- or four-year programs than a decade ago, the result of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s plan in 2000 to increase enrollment, especially among African-American and Hispanic youngsters. Despite that success, only about 38 percent of Texans ages 25 to 34 emerge with an associate degree or higher, compared with 43 percent nationally. The board wants 60 percent of Texans to have at least an associate degree by 2030, and it will need to become a lot more innovative to achieve that goal.

Surprisingly, former state demographer Steve Murdock says, the problem is not as much the changing racial or ethnic composition of Texas as it is “socioeconomic, the resources that people have.” Students are getting into school but are having difficulty staying there long enough to emerge with a degree and a marketable skill. Other experts say tuition costs, indecision on career tracks and students taking too few courses per semester contribute to the problem.

In many ways this is a watershed moment, one Texas has to get right. While many jobs don’t require a four-year degree, more and more occupations require at least a two-year degree and a specialized skill. Failure to keep students in school long enough to obtain at least a marketable associate degree threatens the state’s ability to produce a globally competitive workforce.

The Texas Legislature and education officials should consider several ways to improve overall graduation results, such as allowing dual-credit programs earlier in high school and improving online classes for older adults whose work schedules otherwise might force them to take fewer classes or even abandon their higher education ambitions. Likewise, community colleges and four-year institutions must do a better job of keeping students on career paths and factoring a student’s work, military service, volunteer work or independent study experience into graduation requirements.

In addition, requiring career training and counseling throughout the higher education system could give students a better idea about how real-life jobs match up with degrees and perhaps open doors to internships and full-time positions. Consideration also should be given to expanding the number of community colleges permitted to offer four-year degrees in high-demand fields such as nursing and the applied sciences. Brazosport College, Midland College and South Texas College can grant four-year degrees that align with community needs. Now it is time to allow other community colleges across the state the same latitude.

Texas has made progress in higher education, but ensuring that students graduate with marketable skills remains a crucial goal.

2015 higher education goals

A long-range plan implemented by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2000 called for Texas institutions to hit a number of measures by 2015, including:

— Enroll 630,000 more students than in 2000. (The state needed to enroll about 27,000 more students in both fall 2014 and 2015 to meet the goal.)

— Award 210,000 undergraduate degrees or certificates. (The number was met in fiscal year 2011.)

— Increase the number of nationally recognized programs. (Based on a 2012 report, UT was tied for 13th and Texas A&M was tied for 17th among top public research universities.)

2030 higher education goals

Among the preliminary goals for 2030:

— At least 60 percent of Texans ages 25-34 will have a postsecondary credential or degree. (Currently, it’s 38 percent.)

— At least 550,000 students will graduate with a certificate or a degree from a Texas institution. (Currently, it’s 291,000.)

— Undergraduate student loan debt will not exceed 60 percent of the first-year wage for graduates of Texas public institutions. (Currently, it’s 72 percent.)

SOURCE: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board