Do we accept that the arc of history for Cal Poly implies a continuing growth of our graduate student proportion?
Yes. Although approximately 10% of Cal Poly degrees are at the master’s level, overall both graduate enrollment and its proportion have been declining slightly during the past decade; currently it is at about 5% of the total enrollment. Increasing our graduate proportion would yield many benefits. For many of our majors, a baccalaureate degree is considered only an “entry-level” degree and increasingly a graduate degree is considered the first “professional” degree. Indeed, several employers have moved to hiring only at the advanced degree level. A greater proportion of graduate students would increase the heterogeneity of the campus population, increasing the presence of national and international students and enhancing the education of all. Graduate students also serve as academic role models for our undergraduates. A deeper graduate education presence would help us further develop our research and would certainly enhance our national and international reputation. It would also suppo
