Overview of Possible Goals and Measures
for the Next Long-Range Strategic Plan for Texas Higher Education
The staff of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) assembled this overview of possible goals and targets for the next higher
education plan in order to stimulate discussion by members of the Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee (Committee). It is anticipated
that by the end of the June 18th meeting, Committee members will have agreed to 4 - 5 goals that while not fixed in stone, will help to provide
THECB staff direction in terms of generating data for potential targets and inviting experts to address members of the Committee at future
meetings.
The overview is in no way meant as a final document, either in terms of goals, targets, discussion points, or questions. Rather, the overview is
meant only to assist Committee members with their work, particularly with respect to the initial stages of work to establish recommendations on the
goals of the plan and the measurable targets that will define progress toward meeting each of the recommended goals. To that end, the following
are important points related to the overview:





Each page of the overview includes:
o
a potential goal category (e.g., “completion”)
o
a potential goal statement to which Texas could aspire by 2030 with respect to that goal category
o
key facts related to the potential goal category and statement
o
a section for Committee members’ written comments and suggestions
o
examples of some measurable targets
o
some suggested discussion points and questions to stimulate dialog
Targets are simply keys to achieving the goals; in other words, measures of progress toward meeting the goal of interest. If targets are not
achieved, it will be difficult to achieve the goal. For example, the current higher education plan Closing the Gaps by 2015 (CTG) includes an
overall goal for participation in higher education. One target for the Participation Goal is the participation rate for the Hispanic population.
The possible targets that are included in the overview are not intended to be exhaustive; rather, they are examples of some measurable targets
that are anticipated to lead to achievement of that goal by 2030.
The numbers and percentages included in the overview are ballpark figures only. Once the Committee has identified preliminary goals, THECB
staff will begin to provide additional data over the course of future meetings to assist the Committee.
The overview intentionally omits strategies for achieving the potential goals and targets. As strategies are suggested during Committee
discussions, THECB staff will record these ideas so that they can be discussed at future meeting(s) as next steps.
6/18/2014 Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee Worksheet (Version 2)
1
Possible Goals and Targets
2015-2030 Long-Range Strategic Plan for Texas Higher Education
State Goal: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Discussion Points/Questions:
At least 60% of Texans aged 25-34 will have a postsecondary
credential or degree of value in the workplace by 2030.
Is the 25- to 34-year-old population
appropriate given the average age of
enrollment at community college is 26?
Is 60% an appropriate goal?
Key Facts:
 3.8M (estimated) 25- to 34-year-olds in Texas (2014); 4.5M projected (2030)
 33% of 25- to 34- year-olds in Texas had associate degree or higher; 40% for nation
 38-43% (estimated) of 25- to 34-year-olds have degree or certificate, assuming
5-10% of the adult population in the U.S. has a certificate
Education attainment estimates from American Community Survey (ACS); certificate attainment
calculation based on Sources & Survey of Income and Program (SIPP) and ACS data
Comments on Goal or Alternative Suggestions:
6/18/2014 Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee Worksheet (Version 2)
Estimated conservatively, 1.44M (38%)
of the current 25- to 34-year-old
population has a degree or certificate.
At the same attainment rate in 2030,
1.7 million 25- to 34-year-olds will have
a degree or credential.
At 60%, the number of 25- to 34-yearolds with a degree or certificate jumps
to 2.7M.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD)
2009 educational attainment data show
that the U.S. is behind 15 leading
countries, with 41% of American 25-to34-year-olds attaining an associate
degree or higher; 32% of Texans in this
age group had earned an associate
degree or higher.
2
Discussion Points/Questions
Goal: COMPLETION
By 2030, at least 500,000 students will complete a certificate or an
associate or bachelor’s (or master’s) degree from a Texas public,
independent, or for-profit college or university.
Key Facts:
 243K bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and certificates (BACs) were awarded in FY2013 – a
109% increase from 2000
 36K master’s degrees were awarded in FY2013 – a 95% increase from 2000
 497K degrees/awards conferred by 2030 if BACs are increased at current pace
Comments on Goal or Alternative Suggestions:
Example Targets: By 2030…..











60% of public high school graduates will enroll in a public, independent, or for-profit college or university
within one year of their high school graduation (currently 53.7%)
60% of economically disadvantaged public high school graduates will enroll in a public, independent, or forprofit college or university within one year of their high school graduation (currently 42.3% into public IHEs)
25% of all eighth-grade students in Texas public schools will receive BACs in 11 years (currently 20%)
25% of students with 50 SCH or more who leave without a credential will return and complete a degree/cert
Reduce the gap for degree attainment between genders to within 10% for degree attainment
Award 40 degrees or certificates per 100 FTSEs statewide (currently 30 per 100 FTSEs)
75% of college ready university students will complete bachelor’s degree within 6 years (currently 65%)
50% of university students requiring Dev Ed will complete a bachelor’s degree within 6 years (currently 32%)
70% of college ready 2-yr. students will earn a degree or still be enrolled within 3 years (currently 55%)
50% of 2-yr. students requiring Dev Ed will complete a degree still be enrolled within 3 years (currently 35%)
Attempted SCH to degree will be 72 for assoc. degrees and 132 for bachelor’s degrees (currently 91 & 141)
6/18/2014 Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee Worksheet (Version 2)
Should master’s degrees be included?
8,000 doctoral and prof. degrees
were awarded in FY2013. The CTG
goal for doctoral degrees was met
several years early.
How should race/ethnicity, gender,
and economic status be considered in
connection with this goal and these
targets?
There were 48K university students
who left with 90 or more semester
credit hours (SCH) when 2008-2012
stop-outs were analyzed; 161K
students from two-year colleges left
with 55 or more SCHs.
The current gender gap for
completion is: 42% M, 58% F for
bachelor’s recipients; 37% M, 63% F
for academic associate recipients;
and 40% M, 60% F for technical
associate recipients. What other
levels should be considered by
gender?
3
Discussion Points/Questions
Goal: WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION
By 2030, 95% of all students receiving a bachelor’s degree,
associate degree, or certificate will be enrolled in the next level
program or employed in Texas within one year of graduation.
Key Facts:
 78% of four-year and 90% of two-year college graduates are employed or enrolled in Texas within
one year of graduation, approximately the same as in 2010
Should this goal be used given that
many university students leave the
state to work? Is 95% too high?
Comments on Goal or Alternative Suggestions:
Example Targets: By 2030…..




80%
20%
20%
80%
of
of
of
of
Should the percent of graduates over
minimum wage vary by level?
graduates make 25% more than minimum wage or higher
certificate completers enrolled in Associate of Applied Science (AAS) programs
AAS completers enrolled in BA programs (currently 14%), etc.
programs have a first-year salary for graduates greater than two-years degree cost
6/18/2014 Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee Worksheet (Version 2)
4
Goal: STUDENT COSTS
Discussion Points/Questions
By 2030, the annual tuition at Texas public universities will be less than
XX% of Texas median annual household income, and the annual tuition
at Texas public community and technical colleges will be less than XX%
of Texas median annual household income.
Costs to consider:
Universities (TX residents)
Tuition and fees: $8,000
Books and supplies: $1,200
Room and board: $8,700
Transportation and other: $4,100
Total: $22,000
OR
By 2030, the average student loan debt of graduates from Texas public
colleges and universities will be no greater than the median starting
salary bachelor’s graduates.
Key Facts:
 Median annual household income in Texas is $51,500
 Undergraduate tuition and fees are $8,000 per year at Texas public universities
 Resident tuition and fees are $2,500 per year at public community colleges; $4,200 at TSTCs;
$5,000 at state colleges
 Currently, the average debt for a bachelor’s degree is $27,000, and the first-year wage is $36,800;
for community college students, the average debt is $13,100, and the first-year wage is $32,800
Comments on Goals or Alternative Suggestions:
Community Colleges (in district)
Tuition and fees: $2,500
Books & supplies: $1,500
Room and board: $6,900
Transportation and other: $4,400
Total: $15,300
Texas State Technical Colleges
(TX residents)
Tuition and fees: $4,200
Books & supplies: $1,300
Room and board: $7,300
Transportation & other: $3,500
Total: $16,300
Lamar State Colleges (TX residents)
Tuition & fees: $5,000
Books & supplies: $900
Room and board: $4,200
Transportation and other: $5,100
Total: $15,200
Example Target: By 2030…

Annual increase in tuition and fees should not exceed consumer price index
6/18/2014 Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee Worksheet (Version 2)
Debt amount does not include parent
or private loans.
5
NOTES
6/18/2014 Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee Worksheet (Version 2)
6