A report from the state Department of Higher Education indicates the college going rate in Arkansas increased in 2012:
Department staff also reported the college-going rate for Fall 2012 is up to nearly 53 percent, from 52.2 the year before to 52.9 percent for first-time, full-time students. Of those enrolling right out of high school, 63 percent attended a four-year university and 34 percent attended a two-year college. The remaining three percent attended a private institution.
A movement in the right direction. It will be interesting to see if the legislature’s effort in 2013 to direct more scholarship money to two-year college students moves that number up more.
Here, by the way, is the full report on progression to college by Arkansas high school graduates.
Speaking of the 2013 legislature: It changed the law on education experience required to be director of the Higher Education Department to remove the requirement for a doctorate. Shane Broadway, who’s been interim director, doesn’t have a doctorate and that frustrated Gov. Mike Beebe’s original effort to make him permanent director. The job is to be advertised under new requirements. A search committee will meet soon. I like Broadway’s chances.