NSHE Summit: Closing the Achievement Gap

Nevada’s public higher education leaders gathered to discuss what’s being done to close the achievement gap among underserved and critical populations at a special Board of Regents meeting April 12, 2019.

“NSHE is a majority-minority system based on enrollment and the success of ethnic minorities is a key priority,” said Chancellor Thom Reilly, who has made closing the achievement gap a top strategic goal for NSHE and its eight institutions. “We are striving to increase the graduation rates for critical populations in higher education, particularly for black and Hispanic student populations. The success of this goal is a building block toward the success of our community and our state.”

In an unprecedented effort the Board of Regents and NSHE institutions discussed enrollment and student success data by race/ethnic categories for each NSHE institution including, graduation rates, awards conferred, transfer outcomes and persistence rates.

They also heard from national leaders about best practices and what NSHE can do to improve student success for minority and underrepresented student populations.

Regents Chair Kevin J. Page added, “The Board of Regents recognizes the importance of increasing graduation rates of minority students in our community. It is the only way our entire state can move forward and meet the needs of our growing economy.”