Texas higher education leaders discussed college expectations and the future of higher education on a panel at the Texas Tribune Festival on Friday.
The panel was moderated by Sarah Hebel, editor-in-chief of the nonprofit news organization. Open CampusParticipants included representatives from Northwest Vista College, the University of North Texas and the Texas Tech University System.
Texas Tech University System Chancellor Ted Mitchell said the “enrollment cliff,” a term referring to a decline in college enrollment, is a problem facing all state universities.
He said it comes down to three factors: changing demographics as annual birth rates fall, changing demand as people see college as too expensive and Texas students moving to other parts of the country.
University of North Texas President Harrison Keller said that while the current political climate in Texas has raised concerns about the state’s higher education system, he believes Texas is a leader in higher education.
“Texas has led the nation in increasing investment in higher education research,” Keller said, “and there are many places that are looking to Texas to be a leader.”
Northwest Vista College President Amy Bosley said accessibility and resources are important for students whose parents never went to college and whose families don’t speak English. She said there’s a lack of understanding about how much it actually costs to attend college. At Northwest Vista College, an associate’s degree costs less than $6,500, Bosley said.
“When I’m with parents, I often ask them, ‘How much do you think a college education will cost?'” Bosley says. “I’m not kidding, parents who didn’t go to college will say something like $50,000.”
After eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion, the three panelists expressed a commitment to “inclusive excellence,” which includes making people feel like they belong on campus. Senate Bill 17.
“We have people on our campus who don’t feel like they belong in higher education,” Bosley said, “who have never felt like they belong in higher education and who have worked so hard on DEI work and are now really starting to understand what it means to not be able to pursue it in that way.”
As part of the solution, Bosley said they are looking at outcomes and making sure there is equal representation across programs. When asked about free speech policies related to the protests, Mitchell and Keller said Texas educational institutions are committed to upholding free speech and academic freedom.
Mitchell said he thinks it’s important to highlight the “great strides” being made by the university, which has “led the nation” in areas such as financial aid, support for community colleges and career advising.
“There’s a temptation sometimes to just focus on some of these high-profile efforts and ignore the broader context in which (the response) has shown real leadership at the state level,” Mitchell said.
Bosley said higher education leaders are ready to support student dialogue and that college campuses are safe places where students can learn how to most effectively participate in activism.
“Part of our job is to help them speak up,” Bosley says. “We give them the space, time and support to do so in a way that’s safe for everyone.”
