The Commission for Higher Education's annual equity report says college achievement gaps are smaller among students with more challenging high school diplomas.

This years annual College Completion report shows more than 40% of students who enroll in a public college or university graduate on time.

The 21st Century Scholars is a statewide financial aid program that provides up to four years of undergraduate tuition and fees for eligible low-income students at Indiana colleges and universities.

The recipients, selected through a competitive process based on academic achievement and other factors, will receive $7,500 annually for committing to teach in Indiana for at least five years after graduating college.

Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers stressed the importance of higher education adapting to meet the needs of more adult learners and being more personalized to different student needs.

Indiana Commission for Higher Education member John Popp questioned the mission of the university's proposed multicultural center saying it seemed "counterproductive to set up a $4 million facility to segregate.”

According to a new report from the commission, the rate of students earning college credit in high school increased by 15 percentage points over the past four years.

On time completion rates for black and Hispanic students have increased across public colleges by five percent in five years as well, but gaps remain.

More than 60 percent of 2016 graduates received advanced placement or dual credits, according to the Indiana Commission For Higher Education’s latest college readiness report.

Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers says despite more students finishing degrees on time, some groups still question its value.