A national campaign aimed at increasing the nation's college completion rate began Monday with a forum at the Maryland State House, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported. The "College Completion Agenda: State Capitals Campaign" hopes to increase the percentage of 25- to 34-year-olds who hold at least an associate degree to 55 percent by 2025, up from 41.6 percent in 2008. Speakers at the forum stressed that higher college completion rates are necessary if the country wants to increase international competitiveness, The Chronicle reported. The College Board released a report urging the higher education community to simplify the college admissions process and rely on more research-based dropout-prevention programs in order to increase college graduation rates. Monday's forum, sponsored by the College Board Advocacy and Policy Center and the National Conference of State Legislatures, is among several initiatives that have gained attention since President Barack Obama announced the goal to boost the United States percentage of college graduates by 2020 in Feb. 2009, The Chronicle reported.
Howard University's Board of Trustees unanimously voted on Saturday to end or merge 71 of its 171 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs as part of Howard's newest academic renewal plan, Inside Higher Ed reported. Critics have expressed concern regarding programs and majors slated for elimination, as well as the effect of the decision on Howard's legacy as a historically black research university. Howard President Sidney Ribeau defended the decision and explained in a statement that the institution's role in higher education has evolved since black students are no longer prohibited from attending certain schools. Under the new plan, Howard will focus on promoting fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, global studies and Africana and diaspora studies. Howard will also adopt a new core curriculum for undergraduates and improve the quality of its doctoral program, according to Inside Higher Ed.
In an attempt to address the state's $10 billion budget gap without increasing taxes, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., proposed a state budget that would cut 10 percent of funding available for higher education on Monday, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported. This decrease in funding under the 2011-2012 New York Executive Budget will affect the State and City University of New York systems. Despite the funding reduction, Cuomo said he opposes tuition increases at the state's public colleges, The Chronicle reported. Under the new budget, the state will aim to spend $132.9 billion over the coming fiscal year, a 2.7 percent decrease from last year, according to a press release from Cuomo's office.
