The Importance of Graduate Education
Meanwhile, at the graduate level, UC continues to attract some of the best students from around the nation and around the world – many of whom stay here to contribute to California’s economic success. But while undergraduate enrollments at UC have risen substantially in recent years to keep up with population-driven demand, these graduate enrollments have not kept up.
UC now lags its comparison universities, both public and private, in the proportion of total enrollments represented by graduate students. That is a significant concern because graduate education and research at the graduate level make a fundamental contribution to economic growth, and California cannot afford to fall behind in this regard.
UC has worked to increase support for graduate education and graduate students. Today, as undergraduate enrollments continue to increase, graduate enrollments are no longer losing ground. But much more needs to be done to expand support for graduate education and graduate enrollments in the coming years if California is to have the scientific and technical infrastructure it needs for continued success in the global economy.
What other issues should we consider?