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Sunday, January 2nd, 2011

Universities Are Challenged as Demographics Shift

Author:     REEVE HAMILTON and JON MARCUS
Source:     The New York Times/The Texas Tribune/The Hechinger Report
Publication Date:     1-Jan-11
 Link: Universities Are Challenged as Demographics Shift
Stephan:   Part of what is driving the Teabagger movement is the fear and discomfort arising from America becoming a majority non-white country; from which it follows our educational system is becoming majority nonwhite as well. And, as the multipolar world emerges from the collapse of the bipolar world we have known all our lives this same trend will only become magnified. Notably the younger generations suffer far less from these prejudices.The problem is principally the bias of older white conservatives with those enlarged Amagdylas.

In August, 60 years after the University of Texas admitted its first black student, the school welcomed the first freshman class in which white students were in the minority.

The University of Texas faces pressure to improve graduation rates amid tighter budgets as more minority students enroll.
The Texas Tribune

Expanded coverage of Texas is produced by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit news organization. To join the conversation about this article, go to texastribune.org.

White students, who accounted for 51 percent of U.T.’s freshman class in 2009, made up 48 percent in 2010. Black and Hispanic students represented about 5 percent and 23 percent, respectively, with Asians and other races making up the rest.

The state’s flagship university passed the demographic milestone earlier than some had anticipated, reflecting a similar shift that is rapidly taking place at other top-level educational institutions across the country.

Although the changing demographics of college campuses may be grabbing the headlines, the more compelling issue is how the growing number of minority students presents serious social and academic challenges for financially strapped universities, even as the schools are under pressure to boost graduation rates.

Nationally, 52 percent of Hispanic students and 58 percent of black students are unable to earn a […]

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