NEWS | September 2006
This page includes all articles in the September issue. Return to summary of articles.
Minnesota is not measuring up: generation underprepared
Learnmore Web site launches
Priming kids for school success
New board members announced
Briefs
Minnesota is not measuring up: generation underprepared
For the first time in U.S. history, the next generation will be less prepared for college than the one before it, according to a national report card on higher education released in early September by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. The 2006 Measuring Up report cards compare individual states as well as the U.S. to other countries: “American higher education on the whole is under-performing and is being out-performed by many other nations,” said Patrick M. Callan, president of the independent research group.
Total Degrees/Certificates Awarded Per 100 Students Enrolled in 2004.
Source: Measuring Up 2006 report
Further comparison of Minnesota to other nations emphasizes the notion that a higher bar is being set internationally. Korea, Japan, Canada and Switzerland are some of the nations out-performing our state. Although Minnesota received mostly A and B grades on its report card, it is clear that performance in all areas is inadequate in international comparisons, especially in educational participation and completion.
Pipeline challenges
The report points to key weaknesses in Minnesota’s K-16 pipeline:
- Statistics show that the state has failed to make significant progress on increasing high school graduation rates. Rates were relatively stable — at 93 percent in 2004 compared to 92 percent in 1992.
- Fewer than half of students are taking courses to prepare them for college. Only 16 percent of Minnesota eighth graders take algebra, a key gateway course to college prep mathematics. Furthermore, only 46 percent of high school students take any upper-level math courses. Even fewer students, 29 percent, take an upper-level science course.
- A greater percentage of high school graduates enroll in college as compared to 12 years ago, but fewer students are completing high school in four years — a negative indicator for workforce development.
Challenging news regarding diverse populations
Although the report’s authors give Minnesota an “A” in college participation, minimal attention is given to Minnesota’s startling racial and ethnic gaps in education. Only 26 percent of African Americans and 18 percent of Hispanic/Latino adults aged 25-64 had at minimum an associate’s degree in 2000 compared to 40 percent of whites.
Similar findings for younger adults (aged 25-34) were found by the Minnesota Private College Research Foundation’s analysis of 2000 census data. Eighteen percent of African American and 44 percent of Hispanic/Latino adults aged 25-34 in Minnesota never completed high school compared to 4 percent of whites of the same age. With the demand for college educated workers rising, 37 percent of whites aged 25-34 completed at a minimum a four-year degree. However, only 16 percent of African American and 13 percent of Hispanic adults aged 25-34 in Minnesota completed a four-year degree. As Minnesota’s ethnic diversity increases, these lagging educational attainment rates for minority populations will have amplified effects.
The affordability barrier
Minnesota’s lowest grade, “D,” was for college affordability. Compared with the best performing states, families in Minnesota devote a large share of family income to attend college. Higher education in Minnesota has become less affordable for low-income families over the past 12 years. The poorest 20 percent of families would have to spend 59 percent of their 2005 annual income after financial aid to attend a public four-year college in Minnesota as compared to 42 percent in 1992. The richest 20 percent of families in Minnesota would have to spend nine percent of their income to pay net educational costs in 2005.
While the state received positive feedback for its investment in need-based financial aid, its failure to increase participation rates of students has significant economic consequences. The report’s authors calculate that total personal income in Minnesota would rise by $1.6 billion if all ethnic groups achieved the same educational attainment and earnings as whites.
It is worth noting that the state’s investments in need-based grants to low-and middle-income college students have not been adequate. While tuition and fees have increased, the average State Grant award fell 14 percent in constant dollars over the last five years for students at Minnesota’s public and private colleges.
The report card suggests that Minnesota should focus on closing achievement and attainment gaps between whites and minorities and making college more affordable for low-income families. Sound, future-focused public policy in the areas of K-12 education, higher education and need-based student financial aid will help ensure a strong economic outlook for the next generation.
Learnmore Web Site launches
Learnmore home page
To promote discussion and identify new solutions to ensure that more Minnesota children succeed in school and pursue higher education, the Minnesota Private College Council has been a catalyst in an initiative that has a new Web site. The Learnmore site at www.learnmoremn.org is a one-of-a-kind resource for anyone wanting to learn more about how we can all help our children and our state to flourish.
Learnmore is the result of an informal alliance of citizens representing business, education, service groups and others who are concerned about our state’s future. With rapidly changing demographics and increasing global competition, Minnesota employers will soon need more new college-educated hires than the state will produce. While various trends are involved, one fact is particularly stark: too many of our children fail to complete high school, let alone pursue post-high-school education options. These trends are especially evident among students from low-income families, new immigrant groups and some communities of color. Today more than ever before, completing high school and earning a college degree will help today’s students adapt in the global knowledge economy and contribute to our state’s vitality.
“Building a talented workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve is critically important,” says Philomena Satre, diversity consultant at Wells Fargo. As the Learnmore discussion forum’s September guest columnist, Satre urges organizations to get started in helping education and she offers several suggestions. Read her post and join in the discussion.
The Learnmore Web site also contains a collection of articles and resources on demographic and education trends, college affordability, workforce environment and quality of life; headlines from recent news articles, suggestions about what you can do and more. Visit Learnmore today.
Priming kids for school success
When it comes to preparing kids for college, education experts say it’s never too soon. Aware of the importance of starting early, the 17 members of the Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC) engage in a variety of ways with K-12 schools. Often these are “college readiness” programs that help students aspire to and prepare for college. They range in focus from improving academic skills to providing mentoring and career exploration to immersion experiences. Readiness programs serve all students, but frequently they target students of color, first generation students and new Americans.
MPCC members partner with K-12 programs in their communities through federally funded TRiO Programs, Minnesota Minority Education Partnership, Admission Possible and other programs. Additionally, many MPCC campuses also have their own college readiness offerings and summer enrichment programs.
Consider the First Step Summer Institute at the College of St. Catherine, which offers residential programs that help prepare young women of color to make a successful transition from high school to college. Students participate in self-development and career assessment activities, experience campus life, find out about other cultures and learn about financial aid, scholarships/grants and preparing college applications.
Fast Forward Youth Program summer camp participants and staff enjoy a trip to the Minnesota Zoo.
“First Step made my transition from high school into college much easier,” said one participant. “I got to meet many very interesting people and learned a lot about myself; I am grateful for the experience and knowledge I gained.”
The Fast Forward Youth program sponsored by the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSB/SJU) is another good example. The focus here is Latino junior- and senior-high youth from Monticello, Willmar, Cold Spring and St. Cloud. The Latino population is the fastest growing immigrant group in the area but the high school graduation rate of Latino youth lags behind white students. Through its tutoring and mentoring programs, Fast Forward Youth reinforces the importance of working hard in school, graduating from high school, and going on to college. CSB/SJU student volunteers and Fast Forward participants meet every week to work on academics and engage in college exploration or cultural activities. Additionally, all youth participants have the opportunity to visit the CSB/SJU campuses at least twice a year, and high schoolers are invited to attend a college preparatory summer camp at St. John’s University in June.
“This program has been a huge support to these students,” director Erin Truhler said. “Any time a student feels like they’re part of something, they’re more likely to stay in school. They’ve improved their academic skills and seen what it’s like to attend college — an experience they may not have had otherwise.”
MPCC schools also have developed relationships with “critical resource centers” and work in partnership with their staff. One of the newest examples is the Achieve!Minneapolis Career and College Initiative launched this past year in Minneapolis public high schools. It coordinates with and builds on existing school, government and community programs to create a more comprehensive system that ensures that all students have knowledge and skills for moving from high school to further education, training or work. Centers assist students in developing now-required life plans, career exploration, college exploration and college and financial aid applications. School counselors, center staff, mentors and volunteers provide advising, coaching and mentoring.
“I like to think of myself as a guy who runs a gift shop,” said Lamarr Scott, Achieve!Minneapolis coordinator at South High School. “The fun part is helping each customer find the right gift for themself. Some know exactly what they want. Others need a little help. Still others don’t have a clue. So it’s both a charge and a challenge to work with them.”
South students have shared these comments: “If it hadn’t been for the Career Center, I wouldn’t have known how to fill out a college application.” “Thanks to the Career Center I had the best summer ever working in a theater program that I really loved.” “I’m going to be studying abroad next year.”
The South High Career and College Center is a vibrant and busy place where kids of all backgrounds come to build their future. “We’re here to help them find their gifts,” said Scott.
Visit the MPCC Web site for more information about preparing students for college success, including how other campuses are helping.
New board members announced
Several new directors recently joined the board of the Minnesota Private College Council, Fund and Research Foundation. The board includes campus presidents from our 17 member colleges along with business leaders, who form the majority of the body. In addition, a new board chair has been named: Macalester College President Brian Rosenberg..jpg)
Macalester President Brian Rosenberg, new board chair
The new directors, who will serve three-year terms, starting in July 2006, are:
- Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer, St. Paul Travelers; St. Paul
- Paul Cerkvenik, Partner, Trenti Law Firm; Virginia
- Mark Chronister, Partner, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP; Minneapolis
- Lyle Fahning, President, Technical Services for Electronics; Arlington
- Daniel Miller, President and CEO, Excorp Medical Incorporated; Minneapolis
- Tim Morin, Executive Vice President , Four51 Inc.; Eden Prairie
- Heidi Schneider, Attorney, Golden Valley
- William Hoeft, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Ziegler Incorporated; Minneapolis
- Lynn Newman, Operations Manager, Evergreen Community Church; Burnsville
- Jean Taylor, President, Taylor Corporation, Eagan
- J. Kou Vang, President, JB Realty Company; St. Paul
In addition, two new directors have joined the board as new college presidents:
- David Anderson, President, St. Olaf College; Northfield
- Paul Pribbenow, President, Augsburg College; Minneapolis
View the complete list of MPCC directors