California's college system in decline, study finds

L.A. Times ^ | July 21, 2011 | Carla Rivera

[americanophile]

California's higher education system is in decline, with fewer students able to afford college, falling college participation rates and dwindling state support, according to a study released Wednesday.

The report suggests that the state, once celebrated nationally for its three-tiered system of public colleges, has lost status as a leader in such areas as affordability, preparation of high school graduates, college-going rates and investment in higher education. The analysis was by the Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy at Cal State Sacramento.

"This report demonstrates the consequences of resting on reputations and policies of yesteryear," the study concludes. "California is nowhere near the leader on the measures of higher education performance that the nation's governors and educational leaders have been tracking for over a decade. We are average, at best, and trending downward."

Among the findings:

• California ranks last among states in funding per college student from state appropriations and tuition and fees.

• Tuition and fee increases exceed the national average rate of increase.

• The college-going rate of high school graduates rose from 53% to 58% between 2003 and 2007 but dropped back to 53% in 2009.

• California ranks 41st in the number of bachelor's degrees awarded for every 100 high school graduates six years after graduation.

Called "Consequences of Neglect," the study concludes that the state has failed to develop policies or a vision that will allow it to compete nationally and internationally in producing an educated population.

[Wuli]

I grew up in California - 1950s - 1960s.

Things were very different then.

May I ask what part of Calif was the college where you took the course?

Believe me the Leftists were already there in my day. I argued all the time with my poli-sci professor who was an outright communist.

[donaldo]

Re: “Asian immigrants are a different story.” Spot on. Ever notice how Asians skew all “minority” charts. This indicates to me that there are variables other than skin color; i. e., having a mother and father, being committed to academic success, learning to master English, etc. Odd how this formerly oppressed minority group (eg. Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882) is able to succeed without affirmative action and “political” spokesmen. Come to think of it, all other ethnic groups, including whites, seem to flourish if properly raised and if denied a built in institutionalized excuse for failure - i. e., “the man be holdin’ me back.” Funny how Asians, who make up about 11% of California account for about 50% of the student body at UC Irvine, and about 40% of Medical students. And did you ever notice how all “whites” are just an undifferentiated mass of oppressors holding back minorities, that is, all minorities, save Asians!

[NathanR]

One reason is that they push diversity instead of academics.

This from the following article in the City Journal gives some reasons: “UC San Diego is adding diversity fat even as it snuffs out substantive academic programs. In March, the Academic Senate decided that the school would no longer offer a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering; it also eliminated a master’s program in comparative literature and courses in French, German, Spanish, and English literature. At the same time, the body mandated a new campus-wide diversity requirement for graduation.”

http://www.city-journal.org/2011/cjc0714hm.html

What is happening at UCSD is criminal.

[Savage Beast]

Yes. "Liberals" are delusional. They are so locked in groupthink that they cannot see what's happening--or even understand that they are delusional.

Western Civilization is Decadent. And U.S. civilization is part of that Decadence.

The big question is whether the American people will wake up and come to their senses in time to save themselves and their children.

The majority of Europeans lack the will even to survive--culturally or otherwise. Evidently they find nothing in their civilization worth passing on to future generations. In fact, they don't even seem to find it a worthy objective to have future generations.

Your response--and your screen name--indicate that you seek truth--for its own sake--wherever it presents itself. Scorn of truth is the single greatest flaw in the dogma of "Liberalism", i.e. in the Decadence that is destroying the U.S.A. The ruthless pursuit of truth for its own sake is the best antidote for delusion. You won't find it in "Liberal" arguments or bastions--U.S. college campuses, TV, Hollywood--certainly not in Washington.