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According to US Chamber of Commerce affiliate Institute for Competitive Workforce report released recently, the State of Texas fails in certain categories and leads in achievement in certain others. In terms of student and college achievement, this state did a lot worse than others.  With respect to higher education innovation, the state obtained mediocre grades.

Four and two year colleges are measured by this report that conducted the studies in all 50 states. Six criteria were used for assessment that included innovation, policy environment, transparency and accountability, meeting labor market demand, cost-effectiveness and efficiency, student access and success.

Very soon, our country will fall short of at least seven million degrees if reforms are not initiated in a short time. This is because, according to key findings from the study, tuition at American universities and colleges has risen three times and this is a startling revelation.

In Texas, among 100 full time undergraduates, only 22 of them complete their degrees. For public four year college degrees, this state ranks among the top ten in completion rates. At two year colleges however, Texas ranks 47th in our country. Among 100 full time undergraduates, only about 12.5 credentials are produced.

When it comes to leadership, only a few states stand out in terms of public accountability and transparency, according to the study. The charge was led by Texas and there are various reasons for this the most important of which is their web based, comprehensive almanac to gauge college performance and their effective system of accountability.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board in Texas has launched a variety of innovative initiatives. One of them includes their “Online Institutional Resumes” that can be customized. This means, students, their families and policymakers can tailor these resumes for use. The study noted that similar initiatives are launched by very few states in our country.

The state also out performed in other areas such as articulation and credit transfer. The study noted that Texas offers very clear guidelines on cost effectiveness and which credits will be transferred to which institutions. As compared to the national mean, local and state funding per completion and costs per completion were less expensive in this state at the four year level. In this aspect Texas joins other states like Maryland, Virginia and Oregon.

This state has been identified to have an environment that is the most regulatory and restrictive in our country. In terms of openness to providers, this Lone Star State received an F. Texas was also found to have a sensitive regulatory trigger and an extensive approval process.

Studies like this show our strong points and short comings and are useful in identifying innovation and enterprise in the field of higher education. States must learn from each other and a way must be devised to implement positive aspects throughout the country. Higher education in our country is in a critical state and it is time to revamp and reassess the situation and get it back on track.