College declines troubling

Utah's changing demographics portend a lower number of 18- to 24-year-olds attending college. One reason is that ethnic-minority populations are increasing and unfortunately, a smaller percentage of minorities attend college as compared with their Caucasian peers.

For example, only 24 percent of Latino college-age Utahns attend college, compared to 39 percent of white college-age residents.

While the research spotlights declines in college enrollment, this issue requires action on the part of parents, K-12 schools and the state higher education system. Just as higher education benefits an individual, it ultimately benefits society and future generations.

In some minority homes, there is no tradition of attending college. Those students may need the support of their neighborhood schools in setting academic goals, taking the courses that will enable them to be successful and providing guidance to ensure they graduate. They also need mentors to guide them through the college application and financial aid process, where appropriate.

Once students begin college, they may require intensive college counseling to carefully select areas of study, take a sufficient number of classes to ensure timely completion of their degrees and receive help in accessing financial aid.

The higher education system must also guard against deterring nontraditional students. The option of open enrollment is a must because many students, Caucasian and otherwise, require more assistance to complete their college studies. Those places need to be available.

Credit Utah's higher education system for taking a pro-active approach to declining enrollment at its campuses. It is ramping up recruiting efforts among minority students, students who drop out before finishing their degrees and working students who may take longer to finish their degrees. An advertising campaign set to launch later this summer is aimed at middle-school students, urging them to take more rigorous high school classes so they will be better prepared for college.

As Utah's Commissioner of Higher Education Rich Kendell has explained, the issue is not boosting college enrollment. The more important issue is that Utah needs more college-educated people. Not only will college enrich their lives (and pocketbooks over a lifetime), a college education is needed to compete in the global marketplace. America — and by extension Utah — can ill afford to fall behind in that arena.