Higher ed in America is so diverse it can be difficult to categorize. It is both a road to improvement and a verification of achievement. It is a dramatically changing environment facing everything from inflation to politics—and all impacting business and development.

Ingram’s Magazine recently contacted the area’s top educational leaders on the status of the region’s higher education, its challenges and solutions. Although financing and continued educational access are leading issues, other topics ranged from academic freedom to state legislation.

Those responding to the Ingram’s dialog on higher education were Dr. Ron Slepitza, president, Avila University; Dr. Aaron Podolefsky, president, University of Central Missouri; Dr. John Sellars, president Drury University; Dr. Dean Hubbard, president, Northwest Missouri State University; Johnson County Community College, represented by Dr. Dana Grove, executive vice president, Academic Affairs, Dr. Marilyn Rhinehart, vice president, Instruction, and Dr. Dennis Day, vice president, Student Services; Dr. Thomas Burke, president, Kansas City Kansas Community College; Dr. Jackie Snyder, chancellor, Metropolitan Community College; Dr. Edwin Robinson, President, MidAmerica Nazarene Univ-ersity; Dr. Beverly Byers-Pevitts, president, Park University; Dr. Tom Bryant, president, Pittsburg State University; Rev. Thomas Curran, president, Rock-hurst University; Dr. Diane Steele, president, University of Saint Mary’s; Dr. Guy H. Bailey, chancellor, University of Missouri at Kansas City; Dr. Jerry Farley, president, Washburn University; and Dr. David Sallee, president, William Jewell College.

Investment or Expense?

Finding solutions for increasing costs of higher education was a key topic. The answers were both creative and practical.

Dr. Dean Hubbard of Northwest Missouri State said the issue is partly perception. “The real problem is the squeeze at the point of purchase,” he said. “I doubt if any parent thinks it’s a bad investment. The problem is paying for it at the time.”

Hubbard said larger issues are economic development and long-term investment. “We need to remember that in 10 years the state gets back every dime that it puts into higher education. The federal government recoups its investment in 20 years. And that doesn’t count the social capital, such as graduates who start a business and hire others, or someone who serves on a school board or otherwise serves his community.”

Dr. Snyder at MCC noted the issue involves more than individual students. “Our country’s and our local communities’ economic viability and social stability, as well as our national security, all depend on a stellar higher education system that ensures access for students from both low-income and middle-income families.”

At UCM, Dr. Podolefsky said it is important to differentiate between the cost of education compared to the price paid by students and parents. While costs for institutions to educate students have increased slowly, the cost to parents has risen dramatically. State support has gone from 85 percent a generation ago to less than 49 percent today.

“At least for the public sector—the reduction in state support, or minimal increases, do not keep pace with inflation, Dr. Podolefsky said. “Under-funding state universities is a prescription for disaster and not a particularly prudent economic development strategy.”

Dr. John Sellars of Drury agreed. “The biggest factor in the rising cost of higher education is public policy. Since the 1960s, the government has been covering less of the cost of universities and expecting the families and higher educational institutions to pick up more of the tab.” He said families can counter some of the shortfall by planning early, exploring savings programs and educational options.

Colleges and universities do more to counter cost increases than is often recognized. Dr. Slepitza noted Avila is among those schools that provide financial aid to a large segment of its students—more than 95 percent. “We are increasing job opportunities on campus and paid internships in a student’s area of study,” he said. “The income helps offset the cost of attendance. Second, these opportunities provide career-enhancing experiences to the student.”

Other Answers

Additional solutions varied greatly. Dr. Robinson at MidAmerica Nazarene suggested a national dialog and partnerships between education and industry to provide low- and middle-income students with funding in exchange for extended internships and potential employment upon graduation. These programs could be focused on skill development for today’s specialized economy.

Rev. Curran of Rockhurst cautioned that students and parents help drive costs through their expectations “ . . . for the latest technology, contemporary residence halls, and attractive student centers (that) add to the need for capital expenditures.”

Dr. Bailey at UMKC stressed the need for budgeting by colleges and universities, including reduced administrative costs. “ . . . (T)he problem has to be attacked from a number of different angles. The changes we have implemented at UMKC are examples of how the issue of rising costs can be addressed.”