The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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February 1, 2010

Our View: State needs to rethink higher ed

The Free Press

MANKATO — Higher education campuses, including Minnesota State University and South Central College, have an atmosphere of apprehension.

The feelings are well-founded, but they don’t need to turn to fear.

The most immediate dilemma is money as Minnesota’s state budget shortfall for the next biennium is estimated to be near the $5.5 billion range. State-affiliated colleges know they will be taking cuts to help shore up that shortfall. That’s why MSU’s leaders took the proactive approach recently of announcing where they will first look to cut programs and staff if and when they see an expected $6 million to $10 million funding reduction.

While short-term planning is necessary to prepare for inevitable cuts, the bigger need is for a serious evaluation of higher education’s future.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty recently predicted higher ed will be transformed from bricks and mortar campuses to training that is heavily tilted toward online education — education that can be provided from anywhere in the country or world.

Certainly, technology is changing education, and will continue to do so. The governor is right to encourage colleges and lawmakers to be more skeptical of constructing new campus buildings.

But the concept of a traditional college campus will and should be an important part of education’s future. Online training can’t always replace in-class education or the value of the college experience.

One issue that needs to be seriously revisited is whether the state has too many campuses and too much overlap in programs. Minnesota has an abundance of campuses — lawmakers and education leaders need to review whether some campuses can and should be closed (perhaps a base-closing style commission is necessary for that type of politically charged issue).

And the higher ed system should look at reducing duplicate programs by having different campuses focus on programs they’ve shown excellence in and trimming similar programs at other campuses. The days of having full-service four-year campuses within convenient distance of everyone is unsustainable.

There are a host of other good ideas on making higher education more affordable and available to more people.

With a new governor and many new legislators to be elected this fall, the topic of higher education’s best track to the future is one that should be a significant part of the campaigns.  

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