THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS of higher educatioN FOR YEARS FOR YEARS E D U C AT O R S H AV E T AOT RT S KEND OU WC N A TH O DAY ’ S “H TY ” N C OOL W LEG APVI CEA LK NE S T U D E N T I S N OT AT T H AT T O DAY ’ S ALL TYPICAL.
“ T Y P I C A L” C Ogone L L are EG Long theEdays of young, likely males S T white, UDE N Texclusively IS reading the classics under N O T oak A TtreesAonL the L spreading campuses T Y P I of C private, A L . four-year
institutions just after graduating from high school. We live in an Long gone47 arepercent the days young, age where of of college likely white, males exclusively students are over the age of 21, 56 traipsingare about the and greenery percent female, 42 percent are of a non-white ethnicity. A of private, four-year institutions world where aafter majority -- 62 immediately graduating percent -- of today’s from high school. Westudents live in anwork, either part-time or full, of and 49 age where 47 percent college percent campus. Where studentslive areoff over the age of 21,27 56 percent of students take some or percent are female, and 42 percent all of their classes online. are of a non-white ethnicity. A world wherethat a majority -- 62 It’s obvious higher education percent -of today’s students has come a long way from thework, either part-time or full, and 49 but exclusivity of ivy-covered walls, percent live off campus. Where 27 many would say there’s still a long way to goof--students especially considering percent take some or the projected demographics of all of their classes online. college applicants are predicted to world in It’schange obviousfrom thattoday’s higher education unique ways in coming years. has come a long way from the exclusivity of ivy-lined walls, but Projections from the Western many would say there’sfor stillHigher a long Interstate Commission way to go -especially considering Education (WICHE) indicate that the projected demographics of after steady increases in the overall college applicants are predicted number of high school graduates to change from today’sthe world over the last 15 years, U.S.inis headed into ainperiod of years. stagnation. unique ways coming The pending national plateau is largely fueled by athe decline in the Projections from Western white student population Interstate Commission forand Higher counterbalanced by indicate growth in the Education (WICHE) that after steady increases in the
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numbernumber of highofschool graduates overall high school of color -- over or, technically graduates the last 15speaking, years, non-white public school the U.S. is headed into a graduates. period of stagnation. The pending By 2030, the WICHE predicts the national plateau is largely fueled number of white public school by a declinetoindecrease the whiteby student graduates 14 population and counterbalanced percent compared to 2013, with by growth in the number of high non-white public high school school graduates of color -- or, graduates projected to replace technically speaking, non-white them to a varying extent until for every 100 graduates. white high school public school graduates “lost” in 2024 through 2028, there be anpredicts increase By 2030, thewill WICHE the of 150 non-white high school number of white public school graduates.to decrease by 14 graduates percent compared to 2013, with In spite of this plateau, enrollment non-white public high school in degree-granting postsecondary graduates projected to institutions is projectedreplace to increase them a varying extent fall until by 15to percent between 2014 for every 100 white high school and fall 2025, according to the graduates “lost” in through National Center for2024 Education Statistics (NCES). 2028, there will beEnrollment an increaserates are150 expected to increase far more of non-white high school for students of color than white graduates. students between 2013 and 2024 with 7 percent growthenrollment for students In spite of this plateau who are white, 28 percent for in degree-granting postsecondary students who are black, 25 percent institutions is who projected to increase for students are hispanic, 10 by 15 percent between fall 2014 percent for students who are asian/ and fall islander, 2025, according to the for pacific and 13 percent National Center for Education students who are of two or more Statistics races. (NCES). Enrollment rates are expected to increase far more While total enrollment across for students of color than white the U.S. may have been slowly students: projected increases declining2013 over and the past between 2024four are 7years, NCES projects enrollment rates to percent for students who are pick back up, with 2018 enrollment white, 28 percent for students on track to surpass the nation’s who percentinfor2010, peakare 21 black, million25 students students who are hispanic, 10that and 2025 projected to blow percent for students who are total out of the water at overasian/ 23 pacific 13 percent for million islander, enrolledand students. students who are of two or more races.
UNITY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2017
topit itoff, off, the NCES predicts ToTotop the NCES predicts therewill willbebemore more students over there students over theage ageofof2525enrolled enrolledinindegreedegreethe grantingpostsecondary postsecondary institutions granting institutions by 2025 than students under by 2025 than students under the age of 21. How’s that for the age of 21.the How’s that for overcoming typical? overcoming the typical? There is no doubt the overall There is no the overall change in doubt demographics will change inchallenges demographics will present for higher educational institutions, especially present challenges for higher if they do not make moves to educational institutions, especially NCES, if adapt. they doAccording not make to moves to minority childrentoare significantly adapt. According NCES, more likely to be first-generation minority children are significantly college students, who in turn are more likely to be first-generation significantly more likely to drop college students, who inparents turn are out than those whose significantly more likely to drop have college degrees. Plus, both out than those whose parents minority students and older have college Plus, both students aredegrees. more than twice minority and older as as likelystudents to be low-income “traditional” students, bringing students are more than twice financial challenges to aseven likelygreater to be low-income as the equation, even asbringing tuition costs “traditional” students, across the nation continue to go up even greater financial challenges and up and up. to the equation, even as tuition costs across the nation continue to It’s more important than ever that go up and up and up. to innovate Unity College continue
and prepare for the future. “If we as an institution can be ready and to can all kinds “If we as welcoming an institution be ofready students be better off,” and we’ll welcoming to all kinds of students we’llDr. beMelik betterPeter off,” college President collegesaid. President Dr. Melik Khoury “Recently, Unity Peter Khoury said. “We need to really took a step forward in laying the look at how become America’s framework forto this evolving class College every ofEnvironmental potential applicants byinhiring sense of the word, with a campus Dr. Rana Johnson as our Chief that reflects all the people of Diversity andSustainability Inclusion Officer. She our nation. science will help us really look at how to education is critical to the overall become America’s Environmental health of our world, and whoever College in every sense of the word, wants to join our community should with a campus that reflects all the have every opportunity.” people of our nation.”