When California equity becomes a Texas opportunity

Even though the Texas economy may be weaker than we would like, we can count on California to make Texas more attractive.

Recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he had signed a bill banning legacy donor or alumni preference in admissions to private colleges and universities in the state.

California has long regulated its public universities this way. Incredibly, they are now doing this with private stores, although some have recently closed. Doesn’t matter. Proving a political point of view is always more important than students, education or the rights of property owners. I consider this the “California Miracle”: turning water into wine.

Private colleges and universities are facing a dilemma they have not faced since the Great Depression and World War II: a real student shortage that could threaten their existence.

Since March 2020, 64 public or private colleges nationwide have either closed or had to pursue mergers, according to a September report from BestColleges. This affected more than 46,000 students. The worst part is that more than half of those students never enroll again, the report says.

Why is this happening?

The Great Recession hurt Americans so much that they stopped enjoying pleasure, and the birth rate shows it. This year marks the last robust high school graduating class across the country.

According to an Axios analysis, the “enrollment cliff” will result in a roughly 11% decline in high school graduates by 2037.

Experts believe smaller, private liberal arts colleges and regional universities will be tested. As a graduate of Austin College and with a master’s and doctorate from Texas Christian University, I am particularly concerned about how private schools will fare. I am also a member of the Board of Trustees at Schreiner University in Kerrville, whose student body is primarily comprised of first-generation college students.

Private colleges and universities face the challenge of raising money. Many schools do not have large endowments to fall back on. Like most businesses, they face rising costs and cannot increase their tuition fees beyond what is affordable for their customers, the students. Famous Tier I research schools do not face these pressures.

California seems to care so much about social engineering that it forgets about student success. The state’s efforts to prevent large donors from exerting undue influence may also leave thousands of students unable to receive an education.

“In California, everyone should be able to advance through merit, skill and hard work. The California dream shouldn’t be available to just a lucky few, which is why we’re opening the door to higher education wide enough for everyone and fairly,” Newsom said.

That’s all well and good until the doors are permanently closed and locked. More of these policies are bad for California students, but great for anyone who wants to participate in the “Texas Miracle.”

By 2050, Texas will overtake California in population, thanks in part to California.

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