The Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education is a professional association committed to the improvement of educational and employment opportunities for Hispanics in higher education.

Dear Member and Guest, 

The current fiscal pressures in state government compound the crisis for Hispanics in higher education and indeed for higher education in general. This is not the time to cut back on any investment in Texas future by cuts in higher education. We are all aware that Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. and in Texas. By the year 2030, by conservative projections, there will be over 15 million Hispanics in Texas, making it the largest single ethnic group in the State.

Up to 36% (8.4 million) of the Texas population. Yet, neither Hispanics nor African Americans are anywhere near parity with respect to higher education. Specifically, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board reports that approximately 5 percent of faculty in Texas public colleges and universities are Hispanic. In addition, about 6 percent of professional staff in Texas colleges and universities is Hispanic. Hispanics make up approximately 23 percent of student enrollment in Texas higher education.

The most recent progress report on “Closing the Gaps”-Texas’ strategic higher education plan-indicates the enrollment of Hispanics in Texas colleges and universities is well below the target enrollment needed for Texas simply to achieve parity with the non-Hispanic population. In the 2010 Progress Re¬port “Closing the Gaps”, Hispanics were 17% below the target trend line for meeting the 2015 enrollment target. About 263,000 more Hispanics must enroll by 2015 to meet the target of 438,000 students. Additionally, in Texas, more than half of freshmen in the State’s colleges need to take at least one developmental/remedial course, and Hispanics are disproportionally represented in these courses.

From a socio-economic perspective, the demographic projections are startling according to the Texas Data Center at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Hispanics and other minorities will total about 90% of all new residents by 2030. If current demographic trends continue, in the year 2030 Texans, as a group, would be:

• Poorer: Average household income would decline from $35, 667 in 1990 to $32,299 in 2030. Households in poverty would increase from 16.2% in 1990 to 19.6% in 2030.
• Less educated: Workers with less than a high school education would increase from 26.1% in 1990 to 35.3% in 2030; those with a bachelor’s degree would decline from 13.9% in 1995 to 10.9% in 2030.

• Needier: Caseloads for welfare and Medicaid programs would increase faster than the general population.

The numbers tell a story and it varies in degree of bleakness depending on the region of Texas and the level of education of its residents. TACHE believes Texans can do much better than this to prepare for our future. According to the Texas Comptroller, every dollar invested in the Texas higher education system returns $5 or more to the Texas economy.

Therefore, TACHE is advancing the following for possible public policy initiatives to elected and appointed officials in the State of Texas.   Dr. Criselda Leal, TACHE President will be working with the TACHE state board, state representatives and senators to facilitate testimony and communication. TACHE is committed to communicate and support the following issues during this legislative session:

• TACHE advocates for public policy to increase funding for the Texas Grant Program and to continue the current need based eligibility criteria.
• TACHE advocates for public policy that funds public colleges and universities at least at the same level as the previous biennium. Level funding of Special Items for colleges and universities is also advocated.
• TACHE advocates for HB1403 (popularly known as the Noriega Bill) updated by SB1528 and opposes any change in the statute’s intent. The statute allows undocumented students who meet specified conditions to pay in-state tuition in Texas public colleges and universities.
• TACHE advocates for restraint in tuition increases in Texas public colleges and universities.
• TACHE advocates for public policy that would require Texas public colleges and universities to demonstrate a strong program that leads to faculty and staff diversity which reflects the institution’s student population. The Coordinating Board would annually prepare a progress report on each college and university in Texas and rank them in this area.

TACHE would like to thank Dr. Jude Valdez and Gus Cedillo for their help in formulating these issues that are of great concern to our community and to the future of every Texan.

Sincerely,
Dr. Criselda Leal
TACHE President, 2011
Non-Profit 501(c) (3)