Addressing Inequalities in Higher Education Access and Affordability

Abstract

Essay 2: Higher Education Policy The higher education coordinating Board consists of 18 members appointed by the governor to approve and disapprove requests for new academic programs, among other powers (Lecture: Texas Higher Education). Though there are many issues surrounding the higher education area, access to higher education proves a significant controversy. In 1946, denial of admission to the UT law school on the grounds of race signified the inequalities surrounding higher education admissions. Economically disadvantaged minorities from small towns lost their admission opportunity within Texas Universities, which proved a big discriminatory approach (Higher Education Reading). There are various cases addressing loopholes in higher education admissions, like Hopwood v. Texas of 1996, whose ruling best defined the need for equality in offering higher education students a chance without any discrimination. Affordability of higher education is another issue of concern. The cost of accessing quality education in America continues to rise, becoming unbearable for many. [City, State] Grant Program (1997), which targets students with financial needs, has expressed an inability to address all the needy financial needs. The legislature has made cuts limiting the number of eligible students. The further report indicates that Tuition Equalization Grants of 1971 cuts continue in helping low-income students attending in-state private schools, thus helping very few students. Fewer students served with forgivable loan programs while the state legislative session of 2013 setting freezing on tuition in public institutions making affordability of higher education a challenge for many. Unequal funding in higher education is another issue surrounding the higher education area. It is a problem that results in unequal distribution of funding to this higher education which adversely affects the students in return. Universities receive un-proportional funding benefiting some and adversely affecting some of these institutions. For instance, considering PUF funding, it is evident that...