Current Trends

The UCEA staff periodically highlights a news story of particular interest to our association membership that could point to an important trend. These appear in the right side column of our home page when we first publish these items, and then are compiled in this Trends section for future reference. Links to online reports and articles are provided as a courtesy to our visitors. These links may change as organizations reorganize their website or archive items. For more summaries of news of interest to members please visit our In The News section.

U.S. Will Be More Diverse and Older by Mid-Century

Minorities, now roughly one-third of the U.S. population, are expected to become the majority in 2042, a transformation that is happening faster than anticipated just a few years ago. According to projections released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hispanic population is expected to nearly triple during the 2008-2050 period. The working-age population is projected to become more than 50 percent minority in 2039 and be 55 percent minority in 2050, up from 34 percent in 2008. In 2030, when all of the baby boomers will be 65 and older, nearly one in five U.S. residents is expected to be 65 and older.

See the U.S. Census bureau press release at http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012496.html

See the projections at http://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/2008projections.html

Online Education Is Rapidly Gaining Acceptance

National surveys show that a majority of Americans think online universities offer a lower quality of education than do traditional institutions. John Zogby’s new book, The Way We'll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream, shows that attitudes about online education are changing fast. In a December 2007 national poll, 45 percent of the 1,004 adults surveyed believed an online class carries the same value as a traditional-classroom class, and 43 percent of 1,545 chief executives and small-business owners agreed that a degree earned by distance learning is as credible as one from a traditional campus-based program. His polling also points to other challenges that colleges will face as they serve a generation of 18-to-29-year-olds that Mr. Zogby calls "First Globals."

See the article at http://chronicle.com/free/2008/08/4206n.htm.

Study Finds Europe's Bologna Process Could Become Global Model of Higher Education

Since 1999, 46 European countries have been working on changing the way they conduct higher education, focusing first on defining each degree in terms of learning outcomes. Written by Clifford Adelman of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, ”Learning Accountability from Bologna: a Higher Education Policy Primer,” examines the reconstruction of those 46 European higher education systems — known as the Bologna Process — in terms of addressing challenges that lie at the core of current debates in the United States about documenting student learning. U.S. colleges and universities have much to learn from their efforts in order to ensure a more secure position for our students in a global economy.

Download the report at http://www.ihep.org/publications/publications-detail.cfm?id=112

Many States Are Feeling the Economic Crunch

Two recent reports show that many states are facing declines in revenue and budget shortfalls, a scenario that will likely have an adverse on impact state colleges and universities. State tax collections are at their weakest in five years, according to a report by the State University of New York’s Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government.

“The Fiscal Survey of the States,” a report released by the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers, found that overall growth in state spending had slowed significantly across the nation and that an increasing number of states faced revenue shortfalls.

See the Rockefeller Institute report here: http://www.rockinst.org/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=15100

See the NGA and NASBO report here: http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/FSS0806.PDF

President Bush Signs New GI Bill

The new GI Bill would provide up to the cost of in-state tuition at the most expensive public college in a veteran’s state, a monthly housing stipend based on a college’s location, and an extra $1,000 annually for book, for people who serve in the military for at least three years. It is aimed at replicating the benefits awarded veterans of World War II and more than doubles the value of the benefit - from $40,000 today to $90,000. The bill also allows veterans to transfer their benefits to their spouse or a child.

See the story at http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/military_gibill_signed_063008w/

IIE White Paper Examines Growth Potential for Study Abroad Programs

More than 223,000 U.S. students annually study abroad for academic credit, and there are widespread calls to significantly increase that number in the coming decade. The Institute of International Education’s “Exploring Host Country Capacity for Increasing U.S. Study Abroad” explores the challenge of substantially expanding the numbers and destinations of U.S. students studying overseas. The greatest room to absorb more U.S. students appears to be in longer-term study abroad programs that last either a full academic year or at least one academic session, and in degree study. Exchange agreements and joint- and dual-degree programs are also large areas of growth.

Read the full report

Reasons Adults are Returning to School

Adults are returning to school for a variety of reasons, according to a recent online article by Encarta. In many cases, the decision to return to school is sparked by a "trigger event" such as getting passed over for a promotion, having a new boss, taking on more complex job duties, or retiring. Yet adults are motivated to enroll in professional and continuing education courses for a range of professional and personal reasons. Some of the more common motives include career advancement/updating workplace credentials, transitioning to a new career, finishing a degree, testing the waters before returning to complete a degree program, personal development/intellectual enrichment, stimulation in retirement, and social interaction.

UK beginning to challenge the US as most popular study destination

A new report by the International Students Insight Group (PDF) indicates that the UK may be beginning to challenge the US as the most popular study destination, despite being seen as the most expensive place in the world to study. While the United States remains the most popular destination for international students, it also faces increasing competition from newer host countries including Singapore, Malaysia, and China, which are building their own higher education capacity to offer a cheaper and increasingly well respected alternative. The report is based on a Student Pulse survey of more than 11,000 students from 143 countries.

Graduate Student Enrollment in Science and Engineering

U.S. enrollment of international graduate students in science and engineering (S&E) fields increased in 2006, according to a report by the National Science Foundation). This increase followed two years of decline in international graduate student enrollment in U.S. institutions.

Enrollment of first-time, full-time enrollment of international students increased 16% over the 2005 level.

First-time, full-time enrollment of S&E graduate students with U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status rose by slightly more than 1%.

Total enrollment of first-time, full-time S&E graduate students rose 6% over the 2005 level.

Did you know?

A new report by the International Students Insight Group indicates that the UK may be beginning to challenge the US as the most popular study destination, despite being seen as the most expensive place in the world to study. While the United States remains the most popular destination for international students, it also faces increasing competition from newer host countries including Singapore, Malaysia, and China, which are building their own higher education capacity to offer a cheaper and increasingly well respected alternative. The report is based on a Student Pulse survey of more than 11,000 students from 143 countries.