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Saturday, July 19, 2008

NEWS

Closing the Gap: Higher Education Chart

Louisiana must improve its universities, community colleges and technical schools to produce a better work force and spur the economy. Here are some of the challenges the state faces, what might be done to help and what stands in the way.
WHAT’S WRONG WHAT MIGHT HELP WHAT’S IN THE WAY
FUNDING
Louisiana has been last in the South in university funding per student. Gov. Kathleen Blanco pushed through much more higher education funding this year — $300 million in new annual funds and $150 million in one-time money — to push the state toward the regional averages. Higher education must now show results to help guarantee adequate future funding.
AFFORDABILITY
Many low-income students cannot afford college. In addition to merit-based TOPS, statewide Louisiana GO Grants are approved for low-income students going to community colleges and four-year colleges in the state. LSU is offering new Pelican Promise grants to accepted low-income students. GO Grants do not completely bridge the cost gap many low-income students face, forcing high debt loads on some. Students must still qualify academically.
COLLEGE DROPOUTS
Louisiana colleges are near the bottom regionally in retention and graduation rates. Schools are increasing recruitment and retention efforts, while tougher admissions policies draw a higher caliber of students. And more schools are requiring freshmen to live on campus, which has been shown to improve academic performance. The size of the problem is daunting — about 60 percent of four-year students fail to earn a degree in six years. Ways must be found to help students graduate more quickly.
DIVERSITY
Many four-year institutions lack enough diversity on campus. Schools are actively recruiting more minority and international students while offering more need-based financial aid. Such programs do not help students qualify academically for colleges with increasing standards. Low-income students struggle more on average than their wealthier counterparts.
UNEDUCATED WORK FORCE
Louisiana struggles to provide educated workers. About 75 percent of its residents 25 and older have no college degree. Community and technical colleges are growing rapidly and play a key role in training workers since many in-demand jobs do not require four-year degrees. The state’s two-year schools still trail their regional peers as they struggle with funding. Some people feel industry-specific technical college training is overlooked in favor of the more comprehensive education at community colleges.
TOO FEW PURSUE DEGREES
Many students fall through the cracks and end up with neither degrees nor vocational training partly because of a disconnect between high schools and colleges. Redesign high schools so more students graduate or are placed on pre-GED work force training tracks. Universities are trying to reach students at earlier ages and dispel the notion they cannot afford college. More funding is going to dual-enrollment programs letting high school students take university-level or vocational classes. Dual-enrollment programs are not yet widespread enough to benefit all who should participate. Breaking the myth that low-income students cannot afford college is hard, especially if no family members earned degrees.
ADULT EDUCATION
Many uneducated adults do not take advantage of night school or adult education. The new Continuum for All Louisiana Learners program is designed to bring high school completers back to two-year colleges or universities. The pilot program is new and initially confined to northwestern Louisiana.
RESEARCH
Louisiana’s colleges are behind in attracting federal and private research grants. The state also is finding it hard to recruit much-needed research assistant graduate students. Universities are emphasizing patents and spin-off companies. New hiring strategies were launched to draw more professors who collaborate on selected specialties. The Legislature just gave faculty pay raises. LSU is developing a new health insurance program for research assistants. Louisiana’s lack of a reputation for research hurts it in the grant awarding process. Recruiting the best professors is hard when other states offer better salaries.

 

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