Diversity in Higher Education: The Texas Case

Demographers and economists had warned for decades that Texas' population was changing dramatically, and that our institutions of higher learning were falling behind in enrollment, graduation rates, excellence and research.

In a rapidly globalizing economy, they warned, the importance of degrees was growing as rapidly as Texas' minority populations. If Texas didn't improve its colleges and universities — and dramatically increase enrollment and graduation rates, household incomes would drop $6,500 within 35 years.

So, in 2000, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board kicked off "Closing the Gaps By 2015," a plan that set specific goals to keep the Lone Star State economically competitive.

Reports that Hispanic enrollment percentages are still well below average generated the most media attention, of course. This is understandable since that group is projected to grow by 47 percent from 2000 to 2010.

Latino enrollment did grow 40.7 percent between 2000 and 2006, the largest increase recorded for any group. But it will have to increase another 41.9 percent to meet the 2010 goals.