Graduation rates in spotlight

THE POINT — South Texas students and­ ­universities fight to improve numbers.

It’s been scarcely 17 years since the landmark LULAC v. Richards lawsuit, challenging the amount of state higher education resources dedicated to South Texas, was decided, and the consequent establishment of the South Texas Higher Education Initiative. That’s not a lot of time in the overall scheme of higher education.

While South Texas colleges and universities have grown rapidly since then, the area still lags behind most of the state with regard to educational opportunities. South Texas College in Hidalgo County and Texas State Technical College in Cameron County continue to grow, just like the University of Texas at Brownsville-Texas Southmost College and UT-Pan American in Edinburg. Getting approval and resources for new degree plans is a slow process.
With skyrocketing education costs amid a stubborn economic malaise, new investments in education must be justifiable. So it’s unfortunate that achievement at South Texas universities remains relatively low.

Nearly half of all UTB-TSC freshmen don’t return for their sophomore years, and only 16 percent of its students earn degrees within six years of first enrolling. UTPA, which established its Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness to improve student retention and achievement, has better numbers. It boasts a 74 percent retention rate, and about a third of its students earn degrees within six years.

Such numbers are low by any standards, but it isn’t just a South Texas problem. Performance has been declining in Texas and nationwide. UTPA’s retention rate is actually higher than the national average, according to the OIRE. And while full-time students traditionally are expected to qualify for bachelor’s degrees within four years, UT-Austin is the only public university in Texas where at least half of its students earn degrees within that time.

In fact, in terms of percentage of population age 25 or older who have earned at least an associate’s degree, Texas ranks dead last in the country. And the country has fallen to 12th globally in percentage of population with at least a two-year degree.

Certainly, many factors contribute to the apparent decline in our rankings. Even as state and federal lawmakers increase grants and other allocations to help people get into college, it remains largely a private issue. Several countries subsidize higher education much more heavily than we do. A weakened economy and climbing costs have reduced the number of U.S. students who can afford to go to school full time.

Not all of the problem is economic, however. A significant part of each university’s population is enrolled in remedial classes, meaning they are trying to catch up to their desired grade level. It’s safe to assume that many of those who drop out do so for academic rather than financial reasons.

As technology makes the world smaller and people in other countries becoming more competitive in areas where Americans once enjoyed an advantage, maintaining high education standards is becoming more important. It is critical, then, for students, both locally and nationwide, to recognize the importance of academic achievement.

The option is losing even more value-producing elements of the world economy. That would reduce opportunities for our children and make it even harder for them to maintain the living standards to which we are accustomed.