Texas institutions need to work on their four- and six-year graduation rates, and we know that is something we need to work on. But, we also know it's not the only thing.

If you look at why our graduation rates are low, it's because our high school students are inadequately prepared for college. But, I don't want to focus the blame on the K-12 school system.

New programs, like Texas Grant, which gives aid to students who are in need and have completed college preparatory work in high school, are being designed to help alleviate financial burdens of college students.

Students need to take more college preparatory courses in high school, and schools need to begin forcing their students to have a more rigorous senior year, instead of having a 'blow-off' year.

Immigration really disrupted the social fabric back in Germany when the younger people left. We only know about this because someone saved these letters back in the 1800s and without them we have no clue as to what happened and what people had to deal with back then.

We're going to work hard to make the graduation ceremonies just as exciting as they would be if they were held here.