By David Alexander
Western Herald
With recent hikes in tuition and the nose-diving economy many students are left wondering about the direction of higher education.
To address this issue Western Michigan University is set to host “Forum on the Future of Higher Education in Michigan” at 3 p.m. on Oct. 24, in Schneider Hall’s Brown Auditorium.
The program is expected to touch on issues such as what should be done when facing figures such as these, as well as Michigan’s need for a college-educated work force, tuition prices and what WMU should do in the event of severe budget cuts.
The event features a high-profile panel including: Lt. Gov. John Cherry, WMU Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Timothy Greene and William Johnston, president, chairman and director of Greenleaf Companies.
The trio will address several contentious topics of higher education in individual short presentations before taking questions from the audience. WMU President John Dunn will moderate.
Greene’s presentation is entitled “The Relationship of WMU to Other Michigan Colleges and Universities,” Lt. Gov. Cherry will speak on “A Statewide Perspective on Michigan Higher Education,” while Johnston will handle “Higher Education and Economic Development in Southwest Michigan.”
“Every year the Emeriti Council puts on a big forum that interests everybody at the university and other places, and [‘Forum on the Future of Higher Education in Michigan’] is the one we’re doing this year,” said Ronald Crowell, professor emeritus of teaching and learning leadership.
Crowell said the group wanted to do something regarding economic development.
“There was one of these a few years ago, but things have changed so much, and our funding is so scary right now,” he said. “With auto sales the way they are, and the huge downturn in the economy, this budget year is likely to take a hit.”
“In today’s economy, a highly educated population has a second and immediate benefit: when work can be located anywhere in the global village, economic growth and jobs will be created in those regions that have this key ingredient,” according to the Final Report of the Cherry’s Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth.
The study notes that, Michigan is below the national average in percentage of adults 25 and older who hold associate’s, bachelor’s and post-baccalaureate degrees, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The event is sponsored by the Emeriti Council and is free to the public.
