Projections show that by 2025, California will be short 3 million college-educated workers. That may seem like a long way off, but it’s not. For many students at Sacramento State, it will be the prime of their adult lives. Such a stark shortage will not only affect the job market, but the economy as well.

The California State University system’s retention and graduation rates seem the likely place to put blame for the future crisis in educated workers, but it isn’t. CSU retention and graduation rates have been consistently higher than the national average. That doesn’t mean they don’t need work or shouldn’t be better, but they aren’t failing.

Retention and graduation programs consistently need attention and evaluation to make sure that each new entering freshman class is receiving the support it needs to succeed.

Major and career guidance, or study session classes for those students who are drowning in their schoolwork would help the rates. These types of student-oriented programs would benefit retention and graduation rates but not enough to bridge the gap of workers by 2025.

The focus should stop at those students who are already enrolled in the university, but extend to those who are not. Of the students in California who graduate from high school, only half go on to college. Students don’t go to college because it’s too expensive, under-stressed in secondary school or not as appealing as making money at a full-time job. The focus needs to be put on making college accessible and appealing to these students who don’t believe it is.

College tuition continues to rise and marginalize low-income students to community college or no college at all. There are thousands of students in California who would like to be in college but don’t think it’s an option for them. For some, it isn’t.

Financial aid needs to be opened to more people in California and the process made simpler. Students should be getting units just for being able to complete the myriad of tasks needed to be eligible for review to see if they’re eligible for financial aid. The application process for financial aid turns people off.

Those students receiving financial aid are expected to be working 20 hours per week. If they are not currently, they are offered a work-study position as part of their financial aid package. Some semesters a job is manageable. But a job as a source of financial aid risks moving a student’s priorities from academics to paying the bills.

There needs to be greater focus on bringing more students into the universities, but also into an environment where they will stay and succeed. The importance of a college education needs to be promoted at all levels of education from elementary to high school. Financial aid needs to be advertised, simplified and available to all those who need it. And once the students arrive at their university, they need to be guided and encouraged to find an interest, run with it and if they get into academic trouble, reach out for help.

Choquette Marrow can be reached at [email protected]