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UTB-CBIRD Report: “At The Crossroads” Education & Training 68
When examining the education value-added that UTB/TSC offers its students as
compared to those of the rest of the state and nation it becomes clear that
UTB/TSC, like other regional comprehensive universities in Texas, is key to
“Closing the Gaps” in higher educational opportunity. The Hispanic Outlook in
Higher Education annually lists the top 100 U.S. institutions graduating
Hispanics with bachelor’s degrees. In May 2002 UTB/TSC ranked 34 th among
the top 100 baccalaureate producers in the country with a total of 441 Hispanic
graduates. That is equivalent to 9 th in the State of Texas. This level of degree
productivity in the last 10 years documents the enormity of the unmet need for
Hispanic higher education in the state and nation.
In 2002, nationwide, UTB/TSC ranks 26 th in the top 100 producers of Hispanic
graduate degrees with a total of 127 master’s degrees awarded. This is
equivalent to 7 th in the State of Texas. Investing in a strategically chosen
master’s degrees could propel this number dramatically upward. UTB/TSC
students with the described demographic and educational aspiration profile are
generally not able to leave the area to complete their education easily; they have
jobs, homes and family responsibilities. Degree offerings at UTB/TSC are usually
their only option.
Examining specific degree programs makes the UTB/TSC case even more
compelling. The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education (2002) ranked UTB/TSC
third in the nation in the production of Hispanic graduates with degrees in
Foreign Language (56), and second in the nation in the production of Hispanic
graduates in Mathematics (24), Table 4.6. In 1999 UTB/TSC ranked first
nationwide in producing Hispanic graduates in Mathematics.
Table 4.6. UTB/TSC Hispanic Graduates: 2002 National & State Ranks
Hispanic Graduates National Rank State Rank Degrees Awarded
Mathematics 1 1 24
Foreign Languages 3 2 56
Masters Degrees 26 7 127
Bachelors 34 9 441
Source: The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, Vol. 12, No. 15, May 6, 2002
These national rankings indicate that UTB/TSC is doing some things
exceptionally well in terms of “closing the gap,” while the production of Hispanics
in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the rest of the state and
nation is lagging.
During the period, 1992-2002, UTB/TSC’s production of certificates and
associate degrees has been lower as a percentage than the percentage of
increase of production of bachelor and master’s degrees. The institution has
experienced the familiar pattern of students recognizing success in by-passing
the associate degree and going directly into the bachelor degree program upon
the completion of the core curriculum in the Freshman and Sophomore years. It
is clear that the regional economy of South Texas will increasingly depend upon
the production of an educated and trained workforce. This requires the
development of workforce training and continuing education programs as well as
occupational and technical certificates and associate degree programs. Figure
4.20 shows a proportional growth comparison between UTB/TSC’s programs,
faculty, and students. The growth in degree programs, 1992-2002 -- while
significant – is modest when compared to what is needed. The growth in
academic program development was virtually flat during 1996-2000; however,
since 2000, program development has begun to increase with the addition of a
Una Region -- Un Futuro
While the state struggles
to enroll the desired
percentage of Hispanics in
higher education, perhaps
they should place their
attention on enlarging
UTB/TSC’s existing
programs… they have a
92% Hispanic enrollment
that doesn’t merely
“match” Cameron
County’s high Hispanic
population percentage… it
“exceeds” it by 7%.
This would also reduce the
“brain drain” of local talent
to other areas of the state.