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Thursday, August 17, 2006

N.M. Grad Programs Praised

By Debra Dominguez-Lund
Journal Staff Writer
    Graduate degrees awarded to students of color have nearly doubled nationwide— from 73,000 to 138,000— in the past 10 years, according to Diverse: Issues in Higher Education Magazine.
    And according to the magazine, New Mexico universities have had a lot to do with that.
    The University of New Mexico, the University of Phoenix New Mexico, New Mexico State, Western New Mexico University and New Mexico Highlands University all ranked among the magazine's "Top 100 Graduate Degree Producers."
    The highest New Mexico ranking went to the University of Phoenix New Mexico, which was seventh in the country, awarding 78 Hispanic students master's degrees in business.
    While area educators and minority advocates were pleased to hear the news, some said the education system still has a long way to go in closing the achievement gap between white and minority students.