Skip to main content

Watch: A conversation on higher education outcomes

Watch video of our conversation in Fort Worth on improving higher education outcomes, moderated by the Tribune's Shannon Najmabadi.

Republish

Texas has a problem getting students through postsecondary education: Graduation rates at four-year public universities, at community colleges, and in career and technical classes are well below the expectations of a state that brands itself as exceptional. That’s why the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board created the 60x30 plan, which calls for, among other ambitious goals, an increase by 2030 in the number and percentage of Texans with a degree or certificate from a Texas-based institution. But wishing doesn’t make it so. What strategies and tactics are being deployed to increase college completions? Who is succeeding in this effort, and can emerging best practices be scaled and emulated? Can our parsimonious Legislature afford the price of success?

Watch video of a conversation about improving higher ed outcomes, moderated by the Tribune’s higher education reporter, Shannon Najmabadi.

Panelists included:

  • Vistasp Karbhari, president of the University of Texas at Arlington
  • Raymund Paredes, Texas commissioner for higher education
  • Millicent Valek, president of Brazosport College

Disclosure: The University of Texas at Arlington and Raymund Paredes have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Wait! We need your help.

More than 2 million people read Texas Tribune articles every month, but only 12,000 of those readers also donate to support the news they count on. Not even 1% of readers! If you are one of the 99% of Texas Tribune readers who hasn’t made a donation before in support of independent Texas news, you can change that today. A small donation makes a big impact.

Our Spring Member Drive is an important time to help our newsroom plan for what resources will be available for them to tackle longer investigations and bigger projects later this year. Texas Tribune journalists need the support of readers to write the articles, take the photographs and create the data visualizations that impact Texans and Texas policy.

We have a goal to have 500 readers become Texas Tribune members during our Spring Member Drive. As the Tribune member community grows, the journalism you read here is better protected. Will you make a donation today to show your support of independent Texas news?

DONATE NOW

Information about the authors

Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The Trust Project to increase transparency in news.

Explore related story topics

Higher education Public education Chris Turner