Education as a Necessity

For most of history universities have allowed those with exceptional intelligence to expand their knowledge and make for a better life.  Even at the present time, many believe they can make a good living without some university level education, and some certainly will.  However, as manufacturing processes become embalmed in robotics, the demand for traditional blue collar jobs will decline while opportunities for those with a formal education that can control production machines will rapidly increase.  Texas hosts’ many major research universities and has a multitude of programs to help individuals finance school.  Despite current programs, Texas, and America on a whole, is failing to enroll potential first generation college students and further, is not producing a work force tailored to the fast growing IT industry.

For most first generation college students the biggest issue seems to be establishing a start point.  Having no family input available, and with overcrowding in public schools, the information on where and how to begin a college career is not laid in plain sight for most seventeen-eighteen year old high school students.  Some schools, such as Austin Community College, have made considerable efforts in simplifying the process by providing perspective students a “road map” to college.  Another method for drawing in a crowd with no known direction is through the establishment of state and private programs providing assistance to those considering a college education.  Such programs could play a key role in creating a strong Texas work force that can meet the demands of a high tech economy.  Some programs, such as Con Mi Madre (read more hear) have already had a positive impact and helped individuals wanting to attain a formal education.

An issue not to be ignored is the chosen career paths of students once enrolled at a college or university.  Undoubtedly, there will always be a higher demand for those with a bachelor’s degree over those without.  Given advancement in technology in the last decade, though, there is a discernibly large gap between technically orientated majors (science/engineering) and all other majors.  Simply put, many employers do not see those without a Bachelor’s of Science as capable of performing at their expected level.  Failure to meet these expectations has many second and third order effects including unemployment and outsourcing.  Additionally, over a long enough period of time education will become the limiting factor in technological advancement.  Universities can take a step forward through the presentation of more scholarships for technical majors as well as eliminating any affirmative action programs in affected departments.  Federal and state programs offering an increase in grants available for needed majors could also impact the number of prospects to graduates.  Lastly, employer incentives, such as student loan repayment, tuition assistance, and guaranteed placement after graduation allows industry to directly dictate the education they feel their employees need. 

The number of college educated adults is constantly rising, but currently not a rate that can keep up with the demands of industry.  Considering education is the basis of any high tech economy, it is critical for these issues to be properly addressed in the near future.