New website invites student input on higher ed
The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) asked college students throughout Utah to participate in an “online public hearing on the future of Utah higher education,” according to a recent letter to faculty, staff and students in which USU President Stan Albrecht encouraged USU to participate.
The online hearing is a type of survey which presents students with proposed courses of action concerning Utah higher education and provides them the option to either “like” or “dislike” the proposal and leave comments.
“I encourage you to help us address these future demands for higher education by letting your voice be heard through this innovative public forum,” Albrecht said.
A recent study by Georgetown University showed that by 2018, 66 percent of all jobs in Utah will require at least some post-secondary education, and 55 percent of them will require at least an associate degree.
According to the USHE, only 39 percent of Utahns currently hold an associate degree or higher. Under the direction of USHE commissioner William A. Sederburg, the State Board of Regents has launched a plan which aims to raise the level of education in Utah to meet the projected demands.
According to their website, the system’s board of regents and commissioner aim to have 66 percent of Utah residents – men and women age 25 to 64 – with a post-secondary degree or certificate by the year 2020. Additionally, they aim to have 55 percent of Utah’s workforce with an associate degree or higher and 11 percent with a post-secondary certificate that leads to a “livable wage.”
Albrecht said the opportunity to participate in this effort comes on the heels of a visit to USU from William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland. He said Kirwan is a nationally recognized authority on critical issues shaping higher education, and that during Kirwan’s visit it became clear that higher education was facing many complex problems. He said education could continue to be “a catalyst for growth and prosperity in Utah and the nation with the help of our best thinking.”
James Morales, USU vice president of student services, said the project has been in development for almost a year and all the public universities in the system have had a chance to contribute to it.
“As far as we know,” said USHE Director of Communications Holly Braithwaite, “this is the first online public hearing of its kind, certainly in higher education”. She said the idea has been talked about nationally but, to her knowledge, has never been done.
She said in addition to voting, there are two wiki documents on the website which allow anyone to register and contribute. The documents are called the “case statement,” and the “action plan.”
These documents are “living documents” which will remain in draft form until their final approval by the state board of regents.
According to the Utah Home Education Association (UHEA) website, the purpose of this draft is to enlist input, feedback and support from the higher education community and its stakeholders to help shape the future of higher education in Utah. The website states that the feedback will be reflected in future drafts of the document.
“The overarching purpose of this document is to serve as a compass to the State Board of Regents as well as to the higher education community and stakeholders in their implementation of strategies that will help ensure the future prosperity of Utah,” the website states.
Morales said: “We are excited that the state is taking leadership on this and saying as a coordinated effort we need to take a look at where we are, where we need to go and how we’re going to get there. I think what’s important and what’s at stake is our future as a state – our well-being economically, how the society within the state continues to thrive and function.
He said the age we live in requires a higher level of skills to function and be successful, and these skills are best taught in a higher education environment.
“The more educated a person is, the better they’re able to contribute to society as a citizen,” he said.
Braithwaite said after students have submitted their opinions and comments, they will be reviewed and incorporated.
“They track all comments and take them into consideration,” Braithwaite said. “Then these ideas will be kind of boiled down and taken to the board or regents for their action plan.”
Concerning student participation, Morales said, “We want you to be honest. We want you to be frank with your experiences and your thoughts and your ideas because that’s going to generate the best outcome as this plan is formulated as we move forward.”
The survey can be accessed at www.higheredutah2020.org.
– rob.jepson@aggiemail.usu.edu