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Description:  Higher education is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. The
nationwide economic recession has left many state budgets in an
upheaval and has severely impacted institutions of higher education
across the United States.  Public universities in particular are caught
in a tight balancing act of generating additional revenue while
maintaining its land-grant mission.  While higher education scholars
have investigated and theorized institutional change few have actually
engaged institutional leaders and the local community, including
legislators, lobbyists, and other leaders on the current problems, the
decision-making processes, and creative solutions. This unique
colloquium invites higher education and community leaders to share
their experiences and insights and engage in meaningful dialogue on
forging unchartered solutions.

Michael Crow, reflecting on his early years as Arizona State University's president, said he visited neighborhoods surrounding the institution to learn more about its community-wide impact and connection.

In speaking with people - whether it was a fourth-grade class of students or adults walking around their neighborhoods - Crow said he repeatedly met individuals who had never heard of the university.

"If they don't know exactly why we're here it's not their fault," Crow said, speaking to an audience of more than 100 people at the University of Arizona on Thursday. "If you're not committed to something other than just teaching, research and service, then what are you doing? Why do the people of Arizona invest in you for your entire life?"

His talk was the last in the symposium, "Higher Education in the New Economy: Crisis or Opportunity?" The forum, sponsored by the University of Arizona's Center for the Study of Higher Education, drew a range of academic, business and policy leaders to talk about the state of higher education within the context of the economic recession.

As a consequence of those early talks, Crow devised a plan eight years ago to transform ASU into a "new American university" model - what he described as a "big in size, high in risk" - to leverage its location and to engage more directly and heavily with communities in Arizona.

"It means you're a little bit closer to the edge, a little bit closer to the problem set," Crow said, noting that among the greatest concerns are access, retention and completion rates. Others are local and global in scope and include sustainability, entrepreneurship, health care, social justice-oriented efforts and also in ensuring the nation has an educated workforce.
 
The 8-point list of priorities, objectives and aspirations he devised eight years ago remains the driving force behind his administrative and includes "use-inspired" research, enabling student success, being involved globally and valuing entrepreneurship.

The plan, he said, has sought to redesign the university so that it is malleable and swift in working to address important issues and to be more embedded in the community.

"You look at whether or not we're assuming responsibilities for these outcomes? Not enough. If we were we would be producing better X, better Y, better Z - whatever it is." This, he said, is the institution's vision.

He noted that because of its origins and heritage, having begun as a teaching college that began conducting grant-funded research during the 1980s, ASU is particularly well positioned to take on the new American university. 

And given that history and heritage, following such a model "is what we're supposed to do," Crow said. "The culture if the institution has always been a culture grounded in teaching, always a culture grounded in maximum service," he said.

Crow also said that while ASU has adopted the new American university model, not every university must, "but we think that some of them do." He said those institutions must aggressively pursue a more localized approach, considering their home communities and states, developing strengths where they reside, considering the histories, cultures, borders and state dynamics, among other characteristics.

During his presentation, Crow said he did not want to spend too much time discussing the financial situation, noting that higher education troubles are "a manifestation, in my opinion, of the universities in my view having diverted from a mission of maximization of their impact."

But all conversations about the recession were not foregone. Crow discussed ways in which his university is attempting to maintain its vision despite the recession, such as trimming administrative and support staff, working to improve student retention, expanding its online offerings and adjusting expenditures, among other things.

"We think the state has been irresponsible by cutting the universities to the level they have cut. OK, they cut," Crow said. "You can cry about it all you want. It won't bring it back tomorrow but you have to think about ways to improve the institution."

April 29, 2010: Dr. Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University

Listen to
Dr.
Lee's introduction and Dr. Crow's presentation and the Q
& A session that followed his presentation.

Increasingly, the nation's community college system is being asked to be all things to all people, which is creating compounding difficulties for institutions, said Pima Community College Chancellor Roy Flores.

In addition to a fundamental mission to aid students toward earning baccalaureate degrees, "we also have been asked to remediate America" and educate "the backbone of the workforce," Flores said. He noted, for example, that about 80 percent of the student body at PCC is comprised of people who are 45 and younger.

Speaking to an audience of about 60 people during the UA Center for the Study of Higher Education's symposium, "Higher Education and the New Economy: Crisis or Opportunity?," Flores discussed the situation specific to in southern Arizona.

He candidly explained that the college "has not produced the best results" in remediating students, particularly those who test into the lowest levels of math and reading. The vast majority of those student, he said, do not graduate from the college.

However, Flores did say that among students who tell the college that they intend to transfer to a four-year institution complete a program or fulfill another educational goal, that is where the college is successful.  

Still, challenges remain tied to pedagogy, evaluating student learning and modality, something the college district is currently evaluating. In addition to its condensed semester, distance education, self-paced courses, PCC officials are considering the implications of not following the traditional academic year model.  

"We have to really find out how to teach and how to do that well to improve those numbers, which probably means we will have to get away from the regular semester approach," Flores said, noting that the traditional model does not work for all students.

"How do you get to mass customization? It's going to be difficult," Flores said. "And, even if you do, how do we do that to scale?

Given these challenges coupled with the percentage of students in Arizona who do not complete high school, Flores said higher education institutions cannot address "these enormous problems" alone.

"While I think we have been successful in some respects, our data is showing we're not very successful at all. And that's not just Pima, I think that's every community college," Flores said.

"We need a community wide dialogue," one that gets beyond the town halls, he said, noting that higher education needs the support of faith-based organizations, neighborhood associations, libraries and the K-12 sector.

"The time has come for us to return to the people of Arizona and ask them the honest questions: 'Do you want public higher education in Arizona? Do you want to support higher education?'"  

The final talk in the symposium will be held April 29. Arizona State University President Michael Crow will speak 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. in the Santa Rita Room of the Student Union Memorial Center.

Interesting presentation today by Dr. Flores. If you missed it or would like to hear parts again, you can listen to MP3 audio. Because Dr. Flores had a summary at the conclusions of the Q & A portion, I included everything in one file.

Representing two foundations that value and fund arts and education programs throughout Arizona, among other programs and initiatives, Paul J. Luna and Jack B. Jewett both said the state is in need of education-focused visionaries.

Neither was speaking solely about visible or designated leaders - like policymakers, presidents and other heads of organizations - but also reference members of the general populace as well.

"We need to focus on civil leadership," said Jewett, president and CEO of the Flinn Foundation, emphasizing the need to engage the masses to aid in future planning and development.

He spoke with Luna, president and CEO of the Helios Education Foundation, before an audience of about 50 people during the Center for the Study of Higher Education's symposium, "Higher Education and the New Economy: Crisis or Opportunity?"

Both said advancing civic leadership means encouraging individuals to vote, contribute to charities, commit to service in their communities and run for public office. Likewise, Luna said it is crucial to develop a college-going culture among students at a younger age.

Luna also said foundations must not simply write checks, but stand in as a partner with those involved in civic leadership and in "creating a voice for education in Arizona," as he said Helios is doing. Additionally, Jewett said foundations and "our strategic philanthropy must pay close attention to these dire straits and the consequences we've been facing."

In speaking about civic engagement and Arizona's "missing components," both referenced survey data culled by the Center for the Future of Arizona, the nonprofit organization that published "The Arizona We Want," in October.

Jewett said the report indicated that businesses are not as engaged as they need be and that "only 10 percent" of those surveyed felt that public policymakers and elected officials in Arizona were "properly" representing them.

Issues policymakers must consider "are extraordinarily complex," Jewett said, but added: "Unfortunately, public policy decisions during this most opportune time often times are driven by partisanship. There has been a short term fix rather than a long term strategy."

He and Luna agreed that a ground welling of statewide support, particularly from members of the general public, must occur to propel positive change.

Luna, who is a board member for the Center for the Future of Arizona, said: "These elected officials don't understand where we are and don't hear our voice, so we need to speak louder and with more voices." He also noted that, in Arizona, people tend to have a "very limited understanding of higher education." Yet the center, Helios and other collaborators are working to better inform people around the state about the importance of supporting education, both at the K-12 and higher education levels.

Another missing component, Jewett said, is interconnectivity between existing organizations working to address contemporary challenges - education or otherwise, and skills development for current and future leaders.  

Jewett closed his conversation by citing an article written by New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks. In it, Brooks wrote: "In sum, the U.S. is on the verge of a demographic, economic and social revival, built on its historic strengths. The U.S. has always been good at disruptive change. It's always excelled at decentralized community-building. It's always had that moral materialism that creates meaning-rich products. Surely a country with this much going for it is not going to wait around passively and let a rotten political culture drag it down."

Audio of today's Colloquium series presentations is available.

Jack B. Jewett, President & CEO, Flinn Foundation "From

Dire Straits to a Better Future"

Paul J. Luna,  President & CEO, Helios Education Foundation "The
Arizona We Want"

Q&A
Session

Former Arizona Senator Tim Bee stressed the importance in passing Proposition 100 in a talk about the escalating statewide concerns not only about the current economic situation, but also the funding deficit.

Bee, formerly a senior who now directs Gov. Jan Brewer's southern Arizona office, said Brewer is attempting to mitigate cuts to education, but much more support is required.  

"This is not just the governor's problem, it is a problem for all of us in Arizona," Bee said, noting that the impact of decisions and also consequences of the economy "will face all of us.

Bee, who served in the Arizona state senate from 2003 to 2007, spoke Thursday to an audience of about 60 people during the UA Center for the Study of Higher Education's symposium, "Higher Education and the New Economy: Crisis or Opportunity?"

He said Proposition 100 would prove to be promising, if approved, aiding in shrinking the $1.4 billion budget deficit in Arizona. The sales tax initiative will go before Arizona voters during a special election to be held May 18. If approved, a temporary one-cent sales tax will be instituted.

In speaking about the need for the proposition's passage, Bee prefaced his discussion by sharing his experience as head of Brewer's southern Arizona's office.

He noted that the majority of calls recently received from the public have centered on concerns about the closure of Arizona rest stops along interstate highways and also concerns associated with the proposal to change Interstate-19 signage from metric to miles.

Bee said that while these are valid concerns, "when you look at the magnitude of what we are faced with" he said it is important that members of the public must pay closer attention to what is at stake.

A number of decisions have compounded the budget issue, Bee said, noting that the state cut taxes prior to the economic fall, a decision that has since exacerbated the budgetary problem. He noted, for instance, that the sales tax dropped 34 percent during a 3-year period.

Additionally, he said a number of voter-approved initiatives have tied up much needed state funds and making it difficult to generate additional dollars.

Then the recession hit.

As a consequence of such complexities, the state has opted to take out a line of credit, begun to lease government offices, bonded construction projects, and borrowed against other funds, among other things, to manage the cash flow.  

"It is not as if serious cuts have not been made," Bee said. "But cuts are not a viable option. There aren't many one-time options left to try and solve the budget problem."

Bee noted that Proposition 100, if approved, would offer a much-needed reprieve, not only to higher education, but also the K-12 sector, the Department of Economic Security and the Department of Corrections, among others.

 "It is important to all of us all of us to help educate those around us to the size and scope of the problem and why it is very important that we have some reasonable solutions to solving it," Bee said.

"All of us are making a decision of what we are willing to accept and what we want our government to look like," he said. "Obviously, we want to see the proposition pass, but in order to win this, we must have a high voter turnout."

The next discussion, a foundation presidents panel, will be held April 8 in the Santa Rita Room of the Student Union Memorial Center. The speakers are Paul Luna of the Helios Foundation and Jack Jewett of the Flinn Foundation. The talk will be held 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.

Those of you not in the College of Education may not have heard about Wednesday guest lecture.

Undersecretary of Education Martha Kanter will talk on "The Future of Higher
Education in the Obama Administration."

Wednesday, March 31, 2010  11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Student Union Memorial Center, Room: Gallagher Theater

read the UA News article

Thanks to Milani Llorin Hunt for providing this information.

WHAT: Proposition 100 - ARIZONA SALES TAX: Fix or Folly
WHERE: UA Stevie Eller Dance Theater, 1713 E. University Blvd
WHEN: Sunday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Televised live on PBS-World; streamed at Arizona Public Media live on demand

"Public invited to live debate April 11 on the Arizona sales tax initiative On Sunday, April 11, a panel of Southern Arizona media and representatives from both sides of the issue will face off for a live television broadcast. Public encouraged to submit questions.

You may also want to watch President Shelton's update on the UA funding picture in light of the new Arizona State Budget. Dr. Shelton discussed the consequences if voters reject the one penny sales tax on May 18th. Dr. Shelton also reports on the nearly two year Transformation Plan at the UA.