Indiana’s move to cut low-enrollment college degree programs may collide with many adults who say they want more access to affordable higher education. A new Gallup-Lumina Foundation report shows nearly 90% of adults without degrees believe a college credential has value. But far fewer believe they can get one.
Courtney Brown, vice president at Indianapolis-based nonprofit Lumina Foundation, said that disconnect is key.
“They want it,” she declared. “They know it will help with them. But they don’t actually believe the system can deliver it or that they have access to the system.”
The report comes as Indiana prepares to enforce new quotas that could eliminate more than half of the state’s bachelor’s programs. Colleges must meet minimum graduation numbers or risk losing entire degree tracks. Critics say that could disproportionately affect regional campuses, often the most accessible option for working adults and rural students.
Meanwhile, mental health remains another major challenge. Nearly one in three enrolled students has considered dropping out due to emotional stress, and Brown added that higher ed leaders can’t ignore the warning signs.
“This is a crisis that we have in the United States right now with mental health,” she continued. “It’s one of the most important things that institutions can do right now is really support their students where they are.”
The Commission for Higher Education will decide which programs stay or go by July 1.
1 comment
I’ve seen the list of degrees being cut, and I promise you that WORKING adults aren’t getting those degrees.
Then pivoting to mental health, letting people get worthless degrees puts them in a lot of debt for a valueless sheepskin. That seems like it would cause a lot of stress!
As usual, the position of the left on this subject is wildly inconsistent and doesn’t stand up to critical thought.