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Arizona ranks 43rd nationally in the percentage of high school graduates going directly to college.

By University Communications
June 10, 2008

The public is invited to attend a meeting being held by The University of Arizona, the Arizona Board of Regents and community organizations to discuss challenges facing higher education.

Ernest Calderón, vice president of the Arizona Board of Regents, will present a briefing on Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at El Parador restaurant. The briefing, a part of the Hispanic Professional Action Committee monthly meeting, will be followed with an opportunity to welcome Meredith Hay, the UA's new executive vice president and provost.

The Hispanic Professional Action Commitee is a non-profit, non-partisan, Tucson based organization that leads and supports activities that enhance the well-being, opportunities and culture of Hispanics by monitoring and studying issues that impact Hispanics at local, regional, national and international levels.

During the meeting Calderón will examine how Arizona’s economic prosperity depends on Arizona’s ability to raise the educational level of its citizens, increase access, create new high-wage jobs and improve global competitiveness.

Calderón's presentation is part of the Solutions Through Higher Education campaign initiated by the Arizona Board of Regents and the presidents of the three state universities to increase public awareness of the importance of investing in higher education and some of the current challenges the state faces.

The higher education numbers gathered by the Solutions Through Higher Education campaign are staggering. Nationally, Arizona ranks:

• 43rd in percentage of high school graduates going directly to college.
• 45th in ninth graders' chance of going to college by age 19.
• 48th in state need-based aid as a percent of federal Pell Grant aid.
• 38th in per capita personal income.
• 47th in percentage of adults ages 25-34 with a high school diploma.
• 46th in four-year college graduation rates.
• 39th in younger population with a college degree.

“I am pleased the community has a chance to hear from a regent about the value of higher education and the Solutions Through Higher Education efforts," UA President Robert N. Shelton said. "We need to be proactive and strategic thinkers preparing to meet the higher education needs of a growing population."

Calderón also will discuss the Stimulus Plan for Economic and Educational Development, which has been proposed by a coalition of business and civic leaders and nonprofit and education groups as a way to facilitate needed renovation and expansion of campus facilities while jump-starting the Arizona economy.

The plan enables university construction projects to proceed by selling 25-year bonds to finance those projects now, with the universities footing interest-only payments until 2010 and the state paying nothing. The plan has received support from Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, construction company Sundt Inc., the Tucson Utility Contractors Association, the Arizona Builders' Alliance and Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities.

Calderón, a native of Morenci, Ariz., maintains an active law practice focusing on civil law. He received his bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and his law degree from the UA. He was appointed to the Arizona Board of Regents in 2004.