October, 2004 - Most Americans value a college education, especially as the country continues moving to a knowledge-based economy. But that’s where the consensus ends, as evidenced by the inability of the Congress to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. If you were given 10 minutes to discuss higher education policy with the next U.S. president, what would you recommend as the top priority for the next administration?
Brian Rosenberg
President of Macalester College
(651) 696-6207
rosenbergb@Macalester.edu
The greatest challenge facing American higher education today is to maintain and strengthen the historic balance between quality and access. The signal accomplishment of American higher education over the past century is that it has managed to be both the best and the most accessible in the world: we have educated a higher percentage of our population more effectively than any other nation, and this has arguably been the chief factor underlying our extraordinary successes and the resilience of our democratic processes. Declining public funding for and attention to higher education jeopardize this success. While it is right and necessary to attend to the question of access, it is important, too, to attend to the question of quality, so that we do not end up with a system of higher education that serves more people at a much lower level. Our goal should not be broad access to mediocrity.
Norman Fainstein
President of Connecticut College
(860) 439-2211
nfain@conncoll.edu
I would urge the next president to make higher education a priority by increasing financial aid and building a culture in which students have the resources and advice to choose their appropriate educational pathway based on their goals, instead of their social class or culture. 170,000 students do not attend college annually because of the costs -- or the perceived costs, according to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. It is impossible to know how many others never consider college because of culture issues or lack of guidance. The U.S. offers more higher education options than any other country in the world, yet providing access to these institutions for all who want to attend and are qualified still seems to be this country's biggest challenge. It is not simply a question of tuition increases and the lack of financial aid; it is about building a society that truly values education.
Theodore R. Mitchell
President of Occidental College
(323) 259-2990
jtranq@oxy.edu
Had I ten minutes in which to advise our next president, I would repeat what my high school wrestling coach often said: you don’t wrestle the head, you wrestle the legs. While the concerns expressed about shrinking access to college are real, and colleges and universities’ efforts to address them laudable, there can be no solution without addressing the shameful condition of public schools.
Many students – and the vast majority of students of color – still go to school in aging buildings with no libraries, inadequate science equipment, few computers and overcrowded classrooms. They are taught by the least experienced teachers. These straitened circumstances leave students without a leg to stand on when it comes to adequate preparation for college.
Now is the time to mount the equivalent of an educational Manhattan Project to improve the quality of education for all public school students. Otherwise, wrestling matches over the Higher Education Act will become increasingly irrelevant.
Esther L. Barazzone
President of Chatham College
(412) 365-1160
barazzone@chatham.edu
Our next president should dedicate himself to re-engaging college students in the political process. Young women especially should be encouraged to not only register and vote, but also to run for public office. Too often we argue that politicians will ignore young voters until they vote and participate in civic engagement. But what have we, as adults, done to persuade them to invest in this process, beyond merely noting it is their “civic duty?” Our president should speak with – not at – our young adults and urge them to carry their dreams and aspirations into the political arena at every level of government. As a member of Project Pericles, Chatham College has invested much time and energy to educate our young women about the role they can play in our republic. It is up to our president and other elected officials to help translate their energy into action.
Nelson E. Bingham
Acting President of Earlham College
(765) 983-1211
prexy@earlham.edu
It is essential that American higher education improve access for the full socioeconomic spectrum of Americans. This is both a matter of individual rights and a matter of creating a more highly educated population. It is vital, however, for another reason. There is a growing socioeconomic disparity that is a serious challenge to American society. For institutions of higher education, especially our most selective liberal arts colleges, having the full range of socioeconomic backgrounds on our campuses creates a richer learning environment for all our students. This contributes to building mutual understanding and respect for those of differing economic circumstances, which helps construct an effective analysis of the problems of socioeconomic stratification. Not only does this offer a fuller educational experience, it also represents a way for colleges to participate in confronting the social inequities that threaten our society.
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