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The number of African-American students enrolled at public colleges and universities in Illinois has fallen nearly 26 percent in recent years, while enrollment among other minority groups increased. […]
The latest annual [Illinois Board of Higher Education] report examined the five-year period from 2013 to 2017. During that period, enrollment among African-American students in Illinois fell 25.9 percent, to 54,370 students.
Over that same period, enrollment among Hispanic students grew 6 percent, to 95,167. Asian student enrollment grew 1.9 percent, to 28,745, and enrollment among all other underrepresented groups, including Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and disabled individuals, grew 5.1 percent, to 12,439.
The decline in African-American enrollment was especially sharp in the state’s community colleges, which saw drops of just more than 30 percent. The drop-off was less extensive among undergraduates at public universities, where African-American enrollment fell 14 percent.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 3:32 pm
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Illinois is losing a lot of African Americans unfortunately, so not surprised.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 3:41 pm
A possible explanation might be that unemployment has been quite low in Illinois, particularly in the Chicago metro region. When people are working, they are less likely to seek skills or training offered by colleges of any kind (up through and including graduate school). When people get laid off or lose their jobs, college enrollments increase across the board.
But as with most issues, the reasons are almost certainly more complicated than this.
Also, in addition to racial disparities cited in the article, Illinois has had serious regional disparities in the rate of degree attainment by the public. Say what you will about Blagojevich, but he let Judy Erwin conduct the Public Agenda effort that produced the governing policy for higher education since 2008. It calls for Illinois to have 60% of its population have some form of post-secondary credential by 2025.
Governor Pritzker will be well served to find it, dust it off, and do an analysis to see how far we are from achieving that goal.
Racial and regional disparities in higher education continue to be a major problem for the state obviously. We need to recommit to addressing this in all its complexity.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 3:45 pm
47, great informative post.
–It calls for Illinois to have 60% of its population have some form of post-secondary credential by 2025.–
I was surprised that only 50% had a two-year or higher. Community colleges really need to be at the forefront in preparing folks for the rapidly changing nature of labor.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 3:49 pm
Addressing the gap in high school would help in this area. Not a silver bullet, but one factor for sure.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 3:52 pm
And we still struggle to get under represented youth to apply for apprenticeships in the skilled crafts and trades.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 3:54 pm
This is really insufficient information. You need to conduct a review that compares across variables other than race. How about looking at family income cohorts. Is there a difference between races in all income levels? Also, look at family history of higher education. then look at school systems. Are CPS students of color less or more likely to enroll in higher ed. But please don’t just start talking about how we aren’t encouraging minority students to go for additional schooling because that just not true.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 3:56 pm
“enrollment among African-American students in Illinois fell 25.9 percent, to 54,370 students.”
So 73,000 African-American students were enrolled enrolled at public colleges and universities in Illinois in 2013, around 19,000 more than today.
Since 2013-17, the CPS African American population declined from 159,000 to 137,000. That’s 22,000 less students over the same time period. Obviously, that doesn’t account for the entire difference, but it’s probably the root cause.
Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 3:59 pm
I think some context would help. What’s the correlation here b/w the numbers in the article and the population numbers in the state? Haven’t AA numbers declined while Hispanic numbers have gone up? Is this reflective of that or are these numbers severely exacerbated due to other factors?
Also is it related to what 47th ward said and it’s because there’s more jobs? I think we’ve come to overstate the need for college degrees and for many it is just a better move to immediately enter the workforce instead of racking up debt.
Basically on its face the numbers in the article don’t look great, but I’m wondering, is it really THAT bad?
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 3:59 pm
City Zen wins.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 4:02 pm
Illinois: State Schooling at Private Schooling costs.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 4:03 pm
@CityZen - The 2020 census and eventual redistricting is going to be eye-opening to many. There are a lot of pretty empty wards on the south and west sides.
Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 4:10 pm
I wonder where there are going. It’s purely anecdotal, but I’ve seen a big push by the HBCUs to get kids to go to their schools. Obviously that’s not going to cover this drop, though.
To CityZen’s point, does the report compare any change of the % of AA high school graduates going to college? Because Real numbers are always better than Nominal.
Comment by ChrisB Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 4:34 pm
===I think we’ve come to overstate the need for college degrees===
I think that’s true in a lot of cases, but there are fewer good-paying jobs available these days compared to prior decades as manufacturing, mining and agriculture become increasingly automated. When they perfect self-driving semis, katy-bar the door.
No, not everyone needs a college degree, but I’d submit that everyone still needs some higher education. A hospital janitor needs to know something about infectious diseases, for example, and our high schools are limited.
Lots of employers outsourced their employee training to higher education a long time ago. Caterpillar has a great partnership with local colleges. Banks, tech firms and Fortune 500 companies in Chicago let a college degree suffice as a proxy for skills. A degree is still a requirement for entry into the labor market in many fields. That’s not going to change anytime soon.
Again, in addition to race, the Public Agenda identified regional disparities in attainment. From memory, I think the data show people in Southeast Illinois had the lowest post-secondary attainment of any region in Illinois. That’s as big a problem as low attainment by African-American students.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 4:48 pm
Anecdotal, but I know several kids who are trying but are very hard-pressed to keep a decent job, maintain basic housing, -and- go to college. With what school costs now, plus the costs in time and money to commute, it’s extremely hard for low-income people of -any- race to make it all work. If I had to look for an answer, I’d push for more online schooling options from the state schools and community colleges, hopefully, for every class.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 4:51 pm
Also, the future of higher education will be life-long learning. Expect to see subscription models tested out, where you attend for a year or two, earn some credential, then return 4-5 years later to add a new credential and continue to stack them up as you seek new jobs. The days of going to work at the widget factory and retiring there 30 years later are long over. Most people will have several different careers in their life times. Why should they only receive formal training once?
As I alluded to in my first comment, I think some of the enrollment declines of African-American students are because many have found jobs. If that changes, I’d expect more to return to continue pursuing additional training.
But the cost, including the opportunity cost, of going to a college (any college) is high and only going higher. On-line courses give some flexibility and add in distance learning, but you won’t save any money. The University of Phoenix costs about as much per course as a public four-year in Illinois.
It’s a very complicated issue, and it’s really important that state policy makers get it right (or at least don’t get it terribly wrong).
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 5:01 pm
I have read that the rapidly changing nature of labor in our near future will be robots replacing humans.
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 6:49 pm
Mama, tell your broker to buy as much Skynet as possible. It’s gonna be yuuuge.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 7:17 pm
The number of MAP grants took a huge dive which might explain a bit. In 2012, nearly 60,000 grants for community college attendees. The number dropped to under 30,000 in 2016.
Comment by Sense of a Goose Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 7:37 pm
Probably has nothing to do with map grants considering all other demographics increased. Unfortunately, this is nothing but a reflection of African Americans fleeing our state
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 7:52 pm
47th, what’s happening with African-American enrollment in for-profit universities? I am concerned that the convenience and marketing of the for-profits is pulling kids out of the community colleges.
Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 9:02 pm
Good question Soccermom.
Life ain’t great for the for-profits these days either. Google Argosy University Chicago.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 6, 19 @ 9:12 pm
–And we still struggle to get under represented youth to apply for apprenticeships in the skilled crafts and trades.–
Really? Who are “we” and what are the outreach efforts? No snark.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 7, 19 @ 9:02 am