If I could Reinvent Education...

There is nearly universal agreement that higher education must change. Finding consensus on how is much more difficult. Any reinvention must be grounded in our past success, while inspiring a new blueprint for the future. Travel anywhere in the world and you will find people yearning to come here for their education, or who want to build American style universities in their own countries. Our institutions still set the standard for innovation, creativity, discovery, service and a life of personal and professional fulfillment.

A first step at reinvention requires public recognition that only a generation ago our nation was number one in citizens holding college degrees. Today, we have slipped to 12th among industrialized nations. Continue this slide and our economic and moral leadership will be at risk. Only the outrage of our citizens will turn this around. 

Once we agree to recapture our global preeminence, colleges must be called upon to develop new approaches to delivery. Efficient pathways to degrees, open-source learning networks, innovative instructional models and advising focused on getting students to graduation all need implementation. Costs must be controlled and one new idea would be incentivizing students-who are successfully progressing to graduation-with increased access to grants and low cost loans.

We also must address the mismatch between faculty and institutional goals. Faculty should be fully invested partners in both institutional and student success, including knowing their students' graduation rates. Colleges must become more responsive to changing workforce needs, while remaining faithful to their mission of educating the whole person. Internships and international study abroad opportunities should become common expectations.

In a world far too interested in quick returns and less with quality outcomes, recognizing that education is both lifelong and an endeavor requiring patience is a measurement any reinvented higher education system and its stakeholders must embrace. 

Thomas R. Horgan, is president and CEO of the NH College & University Council, a nonprofit consortium, based in Concord, of 17 public and private institutions across the state. He can be reached at 603-225-4199 or at horgan@nhcuc.org. For more information, visit www.nhcuc.org.