Dick Bond: Higher ed faces financial, educational challenges | GreeleyTribune.com
Dick Bond
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Dick Bond: Higher ed faces financial, educational challenges

Dick Bond

In the midst of the Civil War, the Morrell Act, establishing land grant universities, made the first government commitment to higher education. Before the end of that century, the states shouldered their responsibilities by establishing state universities and specialized schools (like UNC’s predecessor). The 20th century saw the advent of community colleges and the post-World War II GI Bill expanded that government responsibility, leading to one of the most dramatic economic explosions in our history. The offspring of those GIs formed a huge bump in higher education in the 1970s and '80s, further contributing to our healthy economy, envied by the rest of the world, even with its sporadic ups and downs.

The grandchildren and great grandchildren of these economic architects are now our responsibility but the prognosis is bleak, with both states and federal budgets shirking that responsibility. And that, folks, is us! For continued economic growth, if for no other reason, we should insist that historical public responsibility be resumed, and be willing to share the cost.

That being said, let’s be realistic. It won’t happen soon. Meanwhile, tuition will be relied upon to meet increased costs.

There is a school of thought that an even higher tuition can be afforded by some of our parents, with a portion of that higher tuition being spread into scholarships for low income students.

However, that socialization of cost leaves a gaping hole for the middle income ($40,000-$120,000) families, who are the bulk of college students and who will find the tuition struggle most severe.

Middle income families especially will seek almost any avenue to reduce cost. Obvious possibilities: the first two years in a community college in increasing numbers; increased use of on-line education or other cheaper delivery systems, whether from the local institution or a distant competitor; compressing four years into three; starting college while still in high school.

Less obvious, though, as consumers, parents will more closely scrutinize costs. They will be asking questions of any operation, any staff position (many of which grow by accretion or habit), any non-classroom activity, even for internal convenience, “Do any tuition dollars go to this expense?” Same question by taxpayers. Institutions will compete more intensely not only in program, but in cost, which includes not only tuition but room and board or other elaborate and expensive peripherals – little publicized costs frequently overshadowing tuition. An example: “Will this particular technology, even though it increases efficiency and make it easier for the school, really add to the education I am receiving; is it really worth my tuition (or taxpayer) dollar?” Unless costs, including salaries, are examined, they will continue to rise.

Increasingly, because of costs both to parents and to taxpayers, higher education will focus on the marketplace. On the consumer side, will it lead to a job? “Is it worth the cost, especially if costs continue to rise?” From a business standpoint, will the potential employee meet my needs? Community colleges such as Aims have demonstrated the ability to make a quick turnaround to meet specific business needs.

Colleges and universities are much slower traditionally (“moving a curriculum is like moving a cemetery”) but are and will need to do so, particularly in fields requiring at least a four-year degree. But the corollary, are businesses willing to support these changes financially? And as more students enter the marketplace, businesses and higher education will more extensively cooperate in providing continuing growth.

At both levels, the students will be more diverse. Teaching styles will likely change to meet the needs of students who have been exposed to and are proficient in technology, audiovisuals and who themselves are more heterogeneous demographically.

Worrisome and likely to get lost in the face of so many competing demands is that the fundamental purpose of education may be slighted: to develop educated thoughtful citizens who understand to basic tenets of this society of ours and who can understand, sort through and contribute to the arts and literature and competing political philosophies, which have made this wonderful country we have inherited.

Dick Bond was president of the University of Northern Colorado (1971-81), served three terms in the Colorado Legislature (1984-90), two on the Joint Budget Committee and, after retirement, was president of Morgan Community College (1991-96) and founding president of the Community Foundation Serving Greeley and Weld County (1996-2000).