Tennessee sets its sights on more college graduates

NASHVILLE --Tennessee colleges must aim to produce 44,000 graduates per year by 2015 if they are going to catch up with the national average, officials with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission say.

The state now is on track to graduate only 38,000 college students per year by 2015, said THEC officials. Tennessee ranks 44th in the nation for average college graduation rates, figures show.

"The gap is growing as time goes by," said Takeshi Yanagiura, research director with THEC. "We have to do something. Somehow we have to change our behavior."

THEC officials painted a bleak picture of Tennessee college graduation numbers Thursday at the commission's summer meeting in Nashville. Commission members also approved higher education state appropriations and heard updates from the University of Tennessee system and the Tennessee Board of Regents. Both governing boards approved their budgets and tuition increases last month.

This year all universities are receiving more money from students than from the state, said Russ Deaton, director of fiscal policy and facilities analysis, who presented state appropriation data to the commission.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will receive $55.2 million in tuition and fees, or 50.7 percent of its budget, and $47.7 million in state appropriations, or 43.8 percent of its budget, documents show.

Three community colleges -- Motlow State, Nashville State and Pellissippi State -- also are receiving more money from students than from state funds, he said.

"We are facing a decline in resources that is inevitable," THEC Chairwoman Katie Winchester said.

LOOKING FOR HELP

To help treat the graduation-rate dilemma, THEC officials have applied for a grant from the Lumina Foundation.

Tennessee was initially among 28 states for an award in the Making Opportunity Affordable program. Eleven states now are competing for five $2 million grants.

In September, officials will submit a plan to Lumina on how the state will use the money, said David Wright, association executive director of policy, planning and research at THEC.

Those plans for increased degree production will be featured prominently in THEC's new master plan, to be released in January, he said.

"Making Opportunity Affordable gives (Tennessee) a way to link into the emerging national consensus to return the U.S. to a position of prominence in degree attainment," he said. "We want to improve student retention and college graduation rates."

Mr. Yanagiura said Tennessee colleges need to produce nearly 270,000 graduates by 2025 if the state is going to reach the national average.

Falling farther behind

Tennessee's graduation rate is currently 30.1 percent, much lower than the national average of 37.7 percent. By 2025, Tennessee is on track to have an average college graduation rate of 41.2 percent, while the U.S. average will climb to 49 percent, data show.

"In this race to the top for educated talent, we find ourselves behind a lot of other states," said Mr. Wright.

And to raise degree attainment rates by 3.5 percent every year, officials say it is going to take hard work on the part of colleges and high schools.

High schools will have to graduate more students who don't have to be shuffled into remedial courses, Mr. Yanagiura said.

Also, enrolling more adult students into degree programs is not enough to beef up the numbers, he said.

There has to be a focus on getting young students through the system and encouraging dual-enrolled students to stay within the state for their degree, he said.

"Collaboration between K-12 and higher education is essential," said Mr. Yanagiura.