Higher Education: Budget a Barrier for Success?

Brock, T. (2010). Young Adults and Higher Education: Barriers and Breakthroughs to Success. Future of Children, 20(1), 109-132.

As common sense might dictate, higher education contributes to one's future in multiple areas, not just financially (Brock, 2010). With increased levels of education, one obtains correlating increases in lifetime incomes, health, and civic engagement (Brock, 2010). Participating in higher education also fosters personal and intellectual growth, establishment of deep friendships, and preparation of becoming and contributing member of society (Brock, 2010).

Brock (2010) discusses in his article a recent phenomenon among college and higher-education seekers. Greater numbers of students considered "at-risk" are achieving entrance and access into higher education programs, but those students experiencing "success" are few (Brock, 2010).

Various intervention efforts to overcome barriers to success that proven beneficial have been implemented across higher education programs. These efforts include:

• Enhanced student services
• Offering remedial courses with progressive teaching methods instead of repetition and memorization
• Student success courses
• Teaching time management, effective study habits, etc.
• Learning Communities
• Small student groups much like study groups with the addition of faculty support
• Establishes student/faculty relationships
• Summer Bridge Programs
• Additional summer courses prior to the freshman year to prepare students for college
• (Brock, 2010)

The sad reality? These additional programs and services that aid in keeping at-risk students in higher education and achieving success are also at-risk...of being cut due to budget restraints. Students at higher education institutes receive $88.6 billion yearly in federal assistance in the form of grants and student loans (Brock, 2010). Senate Bill 1 would decrease the amount of assistance received by students as well as possibly eliminate many of these programs and services that contribute to their success.

Read more about Senate Bill 1 and it's effects in an article found in the Star-Telegram: "Texas' Top University Officials Bristle at Cuts to Higher Education".