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1995 SESSION

LD0278312
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 618
Offered January 23, 1995
Urging the state to take an aggressive and prominent role in guaranteeing full access to higher education for students of all income levels.
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Patrons--Christian, Crittenden, Cunningham, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Melvin, Robinson and Spruill; Senators: Lucas, Maxwell and Miller, Y.B.
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, although there has been a slight decrease in overall high school completion rates for all students aged 18-24 years old, African Americans (75.1%) continue to complete high school at lower rates than their white counterparts (81.7%); and

WHEREAS, while African Americans have realized some improvements in their college participation rate since 1985, white students are much more likely ((34.1%) to be enrolled in college than are African Americans (23.6%) aged 18-24 years old; and

WHEREAS, African Americans, due to family finances and poor pre-college preparation, frequently fail to persist through post-secondary education degree attainment so that African Americans receive just under six percent of all baccalaureate degrees, less than five percent of all master’s degrees and less than five percent of all first professional degrees awarded in 1990; and

WHEREAS, there are compelling reasons for the under-representation of African Americans in higher education, including the disproportionate representation of African American families among all families below the federal poverty line; and

WHEREAS, there are gaps in information about college opportunities and student financial assistance among African American middle and high school students, and among the excessive numbers of African American males (age 18-24) in prison, on parole or on probation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly recognize the importance of broad access to higher education for students from all income levels and urge this state to take an aggressive and prominent role in guaranteeing full access to higher education for students of all income levels through effective financial aid support.