Many people have asked why Ingram’s dedicates such a high degree of editorial focus to education. People wonder, "What does education have to do with business?" My response has been very consistent: "Everything." This edition of Ingram’s explores the state of higher education in the region, the many partnerships that area institutions have established with business and the extensive growth that has and continues to occur in medical research and the life sciences.

In the late ‘70s, I was among the then 26,000 undergrads at Mizzou, an institution splitting at the seams with an all-time high enrollment in an era when program development was intense and growing pains plentiful. I took most of my coursework in the schools of business and education, and I fought hard to earn a seat in all the journalism courses I could sign up for. In my senior year, I taught some business courses and coached track at Jeff City High—an interesting destination for a kid from cross-state rival Rockhurst.

In one of the Junior Achievement courses I instructed, I learned a good deal about human nature. As their project in free enterprise, my students chose to create an ad-supported high-school year calendar featuring 24 of the area’s comeliest young ladies. Not only did this project reap rewards from JA nationally, but it also worked wonders for my students’ social lives. Yet as engaging as this project was, we encountered one very significant problem—spring. As the semester progressed, these students couldn’t focus on their tasks for their life—and not many tasks are more attractive.

I’m of the belief that this "spring fever" phenomenon may have contributed to the calamity that has waylaid my alma mater, the other institutions in the University of Missouri System and all public higher education in the state. Missouri’s General Assembly has just concluded, and Gov. Holden has approved a 37-percent cut in the operating budget of a fiscal year nearly completed. What happened? Did they get distracted? Were they eager to get down to the lake? In Kansas, where there is no lake to speak of, the legislature cut higher education by approximately 3 percent despite a comparable budget shortfall.

The state’s action has crippled institutions throughout Missouri and prophesies an even bleaker future ahead. Interestingly, higher education in Missouri accounts for less than 12 percent of the state’s $19 billion budget. Despite relatively lean tax revenues, I think it fair to question how Missouri’s policy setters can in good conscience impose such radical measures on education—the core foundation of the state.

Another consideration is Missouri’s "Rainy Day Fund." The fund today is approximately $490 million. I understand a proposed $135 million 3-year loan against this fund was proposed, yet it was denied at the House. Seems to me that if there were ever a time and a need to utilize this fund, this might be it.

At the recent Missouri Governor’s Economic Development Conference, Bob Holden stated that in these difficult financial times, "Challenges will yield great opportunities." He shared his belief that Missouri possesses one of the strongest systems of public education in the nation. He reported that Missouri is being positioned to become one of the nation’s most significant centers of medical research for the life and plant sciences, a knowledge-based center of entrepreneurial excellence, a magnet for new business and a destination of choice for skilled workers. "We will continue to focus on education as our state’s number one priority," the governor proclaimed. As it happens, the governor also reported with some pride that Missouri was among the first and only states to balance its budget. It was left to the audience to understand that the balancing was done on the back of the higher education establishment.

To be sure, the governor said much that was insightful. He announced the development of a strategic plan, in collaboration with the Kauffman Foundation, for encouraging and supporting an entrepreneurial culture in Missouri. And, as he noted sincerely, "The state continues to be interested and involved in ensuring the success of small business in Missouri." But one wonders where these business leaders will come from.

Ironically, Missouri’s budget includes a reasonably aggressive increase in elementary and secondary education, which would be all well and good if the kids had someplace to go to college. I would challenge members of the General Assembly and Gov. Holden to defend their actions. If in fact the state of Missouri is committed to creating one of the strongest systems of public education in the nation, how can our elected representatives substantiate the execution of higher education as they’ve just done?
Oh yes, that’s right, it was spring.
Regretfully,