CAN SMALL GEOLOGY DEPARTMENTS SURVIVE THE TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD'S POLICIES ON LOW PRODUCING PROGRAMS?

The State of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) recently adopted a strict policy regarding “low producing” higher education programs with “3^rd year watch”, “4^th year alert” and “5^th year action” graduation rate stipulations. Currently, the 5^th year action rate is 25 undergraduate students and 15 graduate students over a 5 year period. The impact state-wide is the phase out, temporary extension, or consolidation of low-producing programs. According to FY2010 THECB data for public institutions with baccalaureate degrees, 5 of 19 geology, geological engineering, or earth science programs in Texas were found to be short in the 5^th year action category. Of these, one was phased out, three were granted temporary exemptions, and one consolidated. For the same reporting period, four graduate programs were found to be short in the 5^th year category. Of these, one was consolidated and three were granted temporary exemptions.

THECB graduation rates are fixed numbers regardless of the total school enrollment or percentage of school wide graduates. The THECB rule clearly favors urban, high-enrollment institutions. For example, Sul Ross State University (SRSU), a rural institution (enrollment 2,047) graduated 22 of the necessary 25, yet for the five year THECB report period SRSU geology graduates make up 2.4% of the total SRSU graduates. The next highest percentage in the state is Texas A&M University Corpus Christi (enrollment 10,033) at 0.8% The average institutional percentage of geology graduates for Texas is 0.4%. SRSU serves a vast, geographically remote and culturally diverse region of Texas and is the only institution of higher education for a 145 mile radius where the THECB’s “closing the gaps” initiative can be exercised.

Informed rumors of potential increases (even doubling) of graduation minimum numbers by the THECB would drive the elimination or consolidation of 12 of the 19 Texas public institutions offering geology degrees.

This enigmatically occurs concurrently with the THECB’s published “Closing the Gaps” initiative which sets forth four goals: to close the gaps in student participation, student success, excellence and research and “increase participation rates” across Texas toward increasing graduates in STEM related fields such as physical science.