The 101: The Higher Ed Poll of Texas

The 101: The Higher Ed Poll of Texas, commissioned by the nonprofit, accredited online university, WGU Texas, the Independent Colleges & Universities of Texas, Inc. (ICUT), and the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) examines key public concerns and attitudes about higher education statewide. This year marks their second bi-annual collaboration and the first year to include insights about the pandemic and the digital divide. The poll was conducted by independent researchers James Henson, Ph.D. and Joshua Blank, Ph.D. of Strategic Research Associates, (SRATEX, LLC.)

• 92 percent of Texans agree that having a degree or certificate beyond high school is important, and those degrees are a source of pride for most (93 percent), lead to a higher income (84 percent), better quality of life (79 percent) and are essential for getting a good job (69 percent).
• 56 percent say that they need more education and training to get the job or career that they want. Among those that will seek out more education in the next five year would do so at a community college (32 percent) or enroll at a 4-year public college or university (37 percent).
• 90 percent of Texans agree that it is essential to have an educated workforce if Texas’ economy is going to compete with other states.
• Both Texans with and without student loan debt see student debt as a major problem. Overall, 76 percent of Texans view the problem of student loan debt for people in the United States as a “major problem,” including 74 percent of those who currently hold no student loan debt themselves.
• Among those without a college degree, financial concerns top obstacles for not completing a college degree. The number one obstacle cited was “the cost of a degree” (68 percent), followed by job or work responsibilities (67 percent) and taking on student loan debt (62 percent).
• 70 percent of those with associate’s degrees, 74 percent of those with college degrees, and 84 percent of those with graduate degrees say the cost of their education has or will pay off. 
• 36 percent, or 1 in 3 Texans report purchasing new equipment to continue to work or go to school during the pandemic. 40 percent purchased equipment for both work and school and of those who had to purchase technology, 87 percent were not reimbursed for those purchases.
• The most commonly cited impacts of the pandemic among a list of nine possible choices were lost savings or retirement funds (24 percent), a lost job (23 percent), and someone in the household contracting COVID-19 (19 percent).

Addressing the Impact of COVID-19, access to technology and Internet/Broadband. 

WGU Advocate State Policy Handbook

Governor Abbott’s Broadband Development Council

2020 Texas Report: Governors Broadband Development Council The Governor’s Broadband Development Council (GBDC) was established in 2019 by the 86th Legislative Session to study and identify ways to provide internet access to underserved areas of Texas. 

WGU President Scott Pulsipher on Broadband Access and the Digital Divide:

• U.S. must urgently address digital divide, Rio Grande Guardian  
• A Bridge Over the Digital Divide: The Infrastructure Project for Education Access, Forbes
• Let’s Just Talk Radio: WGU President Scott Pulsipher discusses the Digital Divide Crisis

National Governor’s Association (NGA) Broadband Whitepaper

Connected Nation Texas Report: County by County Broadband Maps County-by-county broadband maps show updated internet speeds, coverage areas for the entire state of Texas. Each set of maps includes additional input from residents, businesses, and communities, and more granular data from internet service providers (ISPs).

Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) Fact Sheets & Policy Briefs