20 Research Institutions Form Alliance to Increase the Number of Hispanic Doctoral Students and Faculty Members
In early June, 20 Hispanic-serving colleges and universities created the Hispanic Serving Research Universities Alliance, with a mission “to double the number of Hispanic doctoral students and increase the number of Hispanic faculty by 20%… by 2030.” Participating schools plan to share data and work together to obtain funding to achieve their objectives. Although Hispanics make up 17% of the U.S. workforce, they account for fewer than 6% of the nation’s doctoral students. “A study published in the Hispanic Journal of Law and Policy found that the number of tenured Latino faculty grew by less than 1% between 2013 and 2017, and they now make up about 4% of total faculty nationwide. Meanwhile, Hispanic students made up almost 20% of students nationwide in 2017, according to a Pew Research Center analysis.”
Source: Inside Higher Ed
Socioeconomic Barriers Top the List of Higher-Ed Leaders’ Concerns About At-Risk Students
A recent survey of more than 340 college professors, deans, student success advisors, and IT executives revealed that their top concerns regarding at-risk students are socioeconomic or sociocultural barriers (43%), mental health distress (30%), and financial troubles (13%). When asked which skillsets will be the most important in the future, 40% said innovation and creativity, 28% cited interpersonal skills, and 13% said technology skills. Just 1% of survey respondents believe higher ed will eventually return to only in-person instruction. When offering their opinions about “the best way institutions can adapt to changing student needs to support enrollment and retention,” 34% suggested “greater flexibility for learners,” 31% said “provide early-warning interventions/analytics to help keep students on track,” and 22% recommended supporting students with “personalized learning technology.”
Source: eCampus News
Half of High School Students Say They’re Not Planning to Attend a Four-Year College
High school students’ awareness of the current labor shortage and their desire to find “the fastest, least expensive route to careers in high-demand fields” may help explain why many recent survey respondents between the ages of 14 and 18 don’t see a traditional college education as vital to their success. “Less than half… said they believe a four-year degree will make them successful, and a third said they’re planning to forge a shorter pathway to their future career.” Only 51% said they plan to enroll in a four-year college — a decline of 20 percentage points since May 2020. Fewer than half said they feel prepared for college, and “81% said learning the skills they need to be successful is an important factor in their decision about education after high school.”
Source: Campus Technology
College Graduates Question the Value of Their Education
Almost half (49%) of recent college graduates said they decided not to apply for entry-level jobs because they felt unqualified, and just 41% “believed their education was a good indication of the skills they possessed.” Only 25% said they would “follow the same education path” again, while 55% “admitted to second thoughts about the specific academic program they were studying, and 41% of graduates said that if they had it to do over again, they would focus on getting a credential in a more ‘in-demand field.’” Survey respondents who had completed non-degree programs, such as vocational and certification programs rather than degree programs, were less likely to question the merits of their education. “Compared to the 55% of traditional degree graduates reporting second thoughts about the degree they were studying for, the ‘second thought’ percentage for non-degree graduates was a bit lower, standing at 46%.”
Source: Forbes