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A searing indictment of the current state of higher education in Illinois

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Illinois

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

Eastern Illinois University’s legislative liaison Katie Anselment had some strong words for legislators during an Illinois Senate Higher Education Committee hearing last week.

Anselment testified against a bill that would create a pilot program to allow a Downstate community college offer nursing bachelor’s degrees. The four-year universities view this legislation as a dangerous slippery slope toward turning community colleges into full-on competitors.

I’m not going to take a stand on the merits of this particular bill. There are good arguments pro and con. It is, after all, just a pilot program. The sponsor wants to address a very real nursing shortage, but the nurses’ union is strongly opposed, believing it won’t create any net new nurses and will instead just shift current students around.

Anyway, setting all that aside, Anselment began her testimony with a searing indictment of the current state of higher education in Illinois after the more than two-year budget impasse that caused universities to lose most of their state funding. Legislative liaisons are lobbyists, so they don’t usually go off on legislators in public, but this time was different.

Anselment said the state’s relationship with its public universities “has been a bit of a ‘Catch-22′ situation lately.” In other words, darned if they do, darned if they don’t.

“Hold the line on tuition, while we reduce your state funding,” universities are told by the state, she said.

“Focus on teaching, but pay more attention to marketing and technology,” Anselment said.

“Whittle down your programmatic offerings and don’t try to be all things to all people, but make sure your majors reflect today’s modern economy and are responsive to regional workforce needs,” she said.

“Tell us in excruciating detail just how bad of a position we’ve left you in thanks to the budget impasse, but stop the outmigration and convince more Illinois families to choose Illinois public universities.”

And then, later in her testimony, Anselment had a mic-drop moment: “At a time when public universities are being admonished to up our enrollments despite declining numbers of high school graduates, to identify and implement more efficiencies in our operations, to focus on what we do best and to consider eliminating duplicative offerings, this bill sets the stage for opening up 48 new taxpayer-funded competitors in a State that has recently proven unable to reliably support the nine universities it already has.”

Whew.

That’s pretty much everything in a nutshell right there.

Illinois used to have an unwritten budget rule that higher education received one dollar for every two dollars received by K-12.

But Gov. Rod Blagojevich strongly believed that universities were too top heavy with administration. His solutions of reduced state funding and a tuition freeze kick-started the decline of higher education in this state. That decline continued under Gov. Pat Quinn and, as with just about everything else, became infinitely worse under Gov. Bruce Rauner during the long impasse.

One of Gov. Rauner’s current big ideas is to force universities to downsize by becoming more specialized. That may be fine, I suppose, for graduate and post-graduate levels.

But how many high school kids truly know what they want to major in when they apply for college? The first year or two of college are supposed to be an exploration of possibilities. Gov. Rauner graduated from Dartmouth, which doesn’t allow students to declare a major until their sophomore year.

By forcing universities to shed undergraduate degree programs, Rauner would likely narrow their ability to recruit students because their options could be too limited.

I don’t intend to say here that public universities are completely blameless. They’ve made way more than their share of mistakes over the years. They can and should do a whole lot better. And some under-utilized degree programs could be dumped without much disruption.

Instead of trying to create and sustain higher education jewels throughout Illinois, the state government has allowed too many universities to slowly deteriorate.

Solving most of their problems will take money, which the state currently does not have. And it will also take ingenuity, but not the kind that would actually threaten their very existence.

We’ve had so much drama and turbulence since Blagojevich. One day, hopefully soon, this state’s leaders will start building instead of childishly blowing stuff up. Last year’s K-12 funding reform was a decent start. Higher education ought to be next.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:10 am

Comments

I agree with the sentiment that Illinois has neglected higher ed and that is dangerous for our state and that have neglected universities and community colleges. Empowering community colleges is good for students in Illinois and should be celebrated. The students (and employers that hire those students) need to be number the number 1 priority.

Comment by Ahoy! Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:36 am
Totally agree with you, Rich. What our recent governors have done to our state university system is criminal. Time to fully fund higher education in our state and stop the out migration of our talented high school graduates that are not even considering staying home to study.

Comment by Big Joe Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:37 am
This is such a timely article given that last week was the deadline to commit to colleges. My oldest chose an out of state public university. It is ranked equal to or better than U of I. With some scholarship money, tuition for her will be lower than instate U of I tuition is. And it’s in a warm climate with a gorgeous campus. Looking at where the kids at her Catholic school and at our local public school are going, I see a decent number going to U of I, but I know of none going to ISU, Northern, Southern, Eastern or Western. Everyone is going out of state. Lots to public universities in Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Alabama and Arizona. Michigan if they can get in. Even a bunch to USC and UCLA. Not to mention the private schools like Marquette, Dayton, ND, BC, SLU, TCU, etc. There’s a lot of talk about the poor state of higher education in IL, and we’re seeing it up close.

Comment by Anon Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:45 am
Currently, Durkin is the only leader who attended state university, the others are all products of private colleges. Therein lies some prejudice against public universities. It is subtle and largely unspoken, but the lack of “fight” to maintain or build our public universities and to allow students a reasonably affordable college education has been evident for a quite a while.

Comment by My New Handle Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:47 am
If the objective of state government is to advance the conditions for long-term, sustainable economic growth, what path would be most-effective?

Building on the existing infrastructure of public universities and community colleges to provide opportunities for citizens to acquire needed and ever-changing jobs skills?

Or bouncing around the country and world, handing out taxpayer money to corporate welfare queens to “create jobs” (read that “press releases” for politicians).

The world labor force is changing dramatically. The best thing the state can do so its citizens can meet the challenges is to actually fulfill one of its core responsibilities, post-secondary education.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/26/jobs-future-automation-robots-skills-creative-health

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:48 am
I would also add the Tier II pension will make it harder to attract quality professors.

Comment by Anotherretiree Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:48 am
And GovJunk’s contribution? Well he offered a series of cuts, resisted any funding while pouring zillions in to k-12 and — ta da — appointin’ Tom Cross to run the board of higher education. A noted visionary, Cross was quick to endorse the Tribbie edit page idea that all the universities should be run by a single board.
Hope local campus officials ignore all the hand wringin’ and go back to growin’g enrollment.

Comment by Annonin' Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:51 am
Governors State University is one of several colleges in NE Illinois to work with the College of DuPage to offer students a 3+1 program where students can go to COD for 3 years, attend the remaining year at another college, and obtain a BS or BA degree. Perhaps change can be good.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:54 am
Many good points by both Rich and Anselment. I sat through that hearing and was unpleasantly surprised to hear about half of Illinois students who are pursuing bachelor degrees in nursing are enrolled in for-profit colleges, where they get saddled with high interest loans and have a higher dropout rate. Given the nursing shortage, that represents a stunning failure by the state’s universities.

Comment by TNR Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:55 am
==despite declining numbers of high school graduates==

I don’t recall this argument being made during the school funding reform discussions last year.

==higher education received one dollar for every two dollars received by K-12.==

Considering K-12 funding reform will consume each and every extra dollar generated from the CTBA graduated income tax proposal, I don’t see this practice ever coming back into vogue. Seems like we put all our education eggs inn the K-12 basket.

Comment by City Zen Monday, May 7, 18 @ 9:57 am
Pardon, anon 9:48 was me.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:09 am
There is nothing wrong with having a conversation about the Higher Education system in Illinois. What is a problem is forcing the conversation by creating chaos by decimating funding for our state’s universities. It’s a bad way to make public policy.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:11 am
==I would also add the Tier II pension will make it harder to attract quality professors.==

Salary and opportunity play a far bigger role in attracting candidates today as the profession has become more nomadic. New college professors are better served with portable retirement plans.

Comment by City Zen Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:19 am
City Zen: No, the profession at the tenure track level has not become more nomadic. Dramatically less, in fact, as state budget cuts dry up those positions around the country.

By “nomadic” you mean adjunct/part-time non-tenure track jobs. Many of those are without benefits, so it’s irrelevant.

Stop trying to make something harmful to workers into a virtue (otherwise known as a bad faith argument).

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:22 am
Me at 10:22 (sorry).

Comment by Blue Bayou Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:23 am
SURS has a self-managed plan. Details are available on their website.

It is not as good as the plan offered at most private universities but it is an attractive alternative to Tier II. Enhancing the self-managed plan (maybe making it a hybrid plan) would help recruit and retain faculty.

Comment by east central Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:33 am
= unpleasantly surprised to hear about half of Illinois students who are pursuing bachelor degrees in nursing are enrolled in for-profit colleges, where they get saddled with high interest loans and have a higher dropout rate.=

The for profits spend tons of money on marketing and the public universities can’t even come close to dropping that kind of money to recruit students. Also, the comment about half the nursing students attending for profit schools was incorrect. It’s 20%. Unfortunately, many of those students do not complete the program and are stuck with loans and no nursing degree.

This bill isn’t about offering nursing degrees. It’s about the community colleges having the ability to offer Bachelor Degrees. They have said so publicly. IF they are granted the authority to offer BSN’s, are they going to have to follow the same strict procurement codes the universities must follow? Will universities get property tax funding like the CC’s?

How about we level the playing field!

Comment by Because I said so.... Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:41 am
Thanks for highlighting Katie Anselment’s testimony Rich. It took a lot of guts to say that on the record, but it absolutely needed to be said. I only hope the General Assembly heard the message and takes it to heart.

Higher education is getting the blame for stagnant wages and a flat economy. It gets the blame when K-12 fails its students. The General Assembly treats the public universities like they are state agencies and guess what? They now perform like state agencies: inefficient, poorly managed, and operating for the benefit of the insiders, not the students.

I wish the GA would find a way to release the grip they have that is strangling higher education in Illinois.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:44 am
===The for profits spend tons of money on marketing and the public universities can’t even come close to dropping that kind of money to recruit students.===

The for-profits enroll unqualified students, charge them a fortune, and provide them with little support. Then everyone acts surprised when these students fail.

We need to raise the standards of high school graduates, not lower the standards of the public universities. If high schools are getting these students college-ready, then the community colleges should be doing more remedial education.

For-profit colleges are bottom-feeders.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:47 am
===If high schools are getting===

*aren’t*

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:49 am
As important as this conversation is, it’s a year late. The damage to the system’s reputation will take a generation to fix. Nice work everyone!

Comment by Signal and Noise Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:52 am
It’s also not going to help that the numbers of foreign students applying for education visas in the U.S. is dropping dramatically. I think UIUC has propped up its’ finances by admitting greater numbers of foreign students at the full freight cost.

The discussion needs to also focus on students as well. If we put students first, then maybe the solution involves negotiating more in-state tuition agreements with our neighbors. Give Illinois H.S. grads the opportunity to seek the best education across state lines. Same solution as Conservatives offer for health insurance. Leverage the competition model.

Comment by woeh;gw4089u Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:03 am
Sad, but what can we expect in virtually insolvent Illinois? Decades of overpromising public workers, staye government over spendng and unbalanced budgets eventually catch up.

Comment by Ron Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:22 am
WIU Director of Admissions quit last week. Told the BOT that the state had been the problem but the on going wounds are self inflicted. He went to University of New Mexico.

Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:24 am
Ron - well said

Would have help if Illinois had a school funding formula that worked

Extra sad - do not see “leader” in the current cast.

Comment by cannon649 Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:49 am
=while pouring zillions in to k-12=

Lol. He said he would, but the money didn’t get here. Get your facts straight.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, May 7, 18 @ 11:54 am
47th Ward is exactly correct about the for-profit “colleges” being bottom feeders.

Since I became semi-retired I usually have the TV on while I am on the internet when at home and the advertising seems, at times, to be never-ending.

Yet our Federal legislators have tacitly given their approval to these scavengers. Pell grants and student loans are readily available to these students as readily as they are available to those attending Community Colleges.

Many employers look at these “degrees” with understandable skepticism. So the result is that many graduates are unable to use their high priced education and must revert to their previous minimum wage employment.

Comment by illini Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:14 pm
One can be an RN with an Associate’s degree. So instead of allowing community colleges to grant BA degrees how about having more community colleges with Associate’s nursing degrees?

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:16 pm
To elaborate on the good sense of Anonymous 9:48, we need to see what jobs will have shortages in the future and make sure our community colleges teach those jobs, so that our citizens can get those jobs. For example, many pilots are going to age out and retire soon. Why are there only two community colleges in the whole state that teach flight training?

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:28 pm
It takes generations to create a top-flight public university system; unfortunately, it required only a decade to damage one of the country’s best such systems.

Given that the state is financially distressed, it seems a given that tighter planning/program oversight will have to be exercised, and costly programs will need to be apportioned - the state can’t afford to run expensive programs at all 9 schools - an unhappy fact of life, alas.

Each school should specialize in some degree programs which are more demanding, depending on current strengths, historical offerings, and regional demand/need.

UIUC, as the flagship, should of course continue to offer a full range of programs up to and including the doctorate.

That said, all 9 schools need to continue to offer undergrad liberal arts degrees - this is one of the features that distinguishes an outstanding state system from a mediocre one, btw. But they don’t all need to offer PhDs in 40 or 50 undergrad majors/minors.

Community colleges shouldn’t be offering Bachelors’ degrees in nursing, no - all we need is 48 + 9 + x-number of private nursing schools and havoc will ensue. I understand the pressure to do so, but if the cc’s start offering BSNs, pretty soon they’ll want to offer Accounting degrees, then Management, then Finance … and the list goes on.

I’m not quite sure what the mid- and long-range planning body for the Illinois state uni system is, but members need to take a serious look at all the schools’ missions and get them in line with one another (the four regional state unis need regional missions; UIUC needs a statewide/nationwide/int’l mission; UIC needs a Chicago-oriented mission; ISU … etc.).

And this is just the tip of the planning-coordination iceberg.

Comment by dbk Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:33 pm
dbk, I don’t think Illinois has had “one of the best” public university systems ever. Other than UofI, what state school has ever been a top public university?

Comment by Ron Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:57 pm
When Adlai Stevenson III ran for Governor in 1982, he had a great riff about how Illinois is a great state — rich in natural resources, rich in economic and labor workforce but it’s our politics that holds us back and it’s our politics that must change.

Watching the unhealthy trends in public higher education in Illinois, I am reminded of Adlai’s words.

Comment by west wing Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:58 pm
===what state school has ever been a top public university?===

Illinois State in Education

Northern Illinois in Business

Southern Illinois in Aviation

- Ron -

Find better trolling points. It’s tiring.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:59 pm
Illinois is neglecting everything other then pensions, Medicaid and salaries- but no fear- our citizens know the score and are leVing in the hundreds of thousands for better managed states

Comment by Sue Monday, May 7, 18 @ 12:59 pm
– our citizens know the score and are leVing in the hundreds of thousands for better managed states–

Or, as the U.S. Census reports, a net population decline of 28K since 2010.

People just can’t get enough of those “better managed states.” Obviously, state government is at the top of everyone’s minds, everywhere, and drives their life decisions.

https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml?src=bkmk

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 7, 18 @ 1:10 pm
Ron - see comment by OW
Plus: when my husband and I were at UIUC in the 1970s, it was ranked among the top five flagships in the U.S. Its engineering department was one of the best in the world and drew PhD candidates from everywhere. Only around 8% of applicants were admitted to the College of LAS …
Also during this period and for some time, UIC was nationally-ranked.

I went on to do a PhD at an Ivy (a higher-ranked Ivy than the Gov attended for his undergrad work /s), and was shocked to discover that the level of work at UIUC was at least as demanding than as that required by the other school I attended in Ct.

I’m sure you - and others - can understand how distressing it is for those of us who graduated from what was a truly great university to follow these discussions.

Comment by dbk Monday, May 7, 18 @ 1:18 pm
I’m skeptical of community colleges… Sure, there are a lot of great ones but there are some that sell a dream of a smooth transition into the university system without having the capability to prepare students for it.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 7, 18 @ 1:22 pm
The problem with nursing programs is the need for sites where they can do their clinical hours. We can expand course offerings as much as we want but unless there are enough hospitals and clinics offering spots, we can’t increase the output of trained nurses. The for-profit schools often “buy” spots for their students either outright or through donations. Having community colleges with more students would just further strangle the clinical site availability.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 7, 18 @ 1:46 pm
@dbk - I agree 100%. My wife and I graduated from UIUC many years ago. It was internationally renown in many different fields. It has been incredibly depressing to watch tuition skyrocket and ranking dropping since Blago entered the GO. It is only because of massive private funding of several of the top programs at UIUC that it still ranks as high as it does. It is crazy to have the giant magnet that UIUC has been historically shutting down.

Comment by DAK Monday, May 7, 18 @ 1:48 pm
We we’re talking about top rated universities, not highly rated schools in University. So, when did Illinois have a bunch of top rated public univerties?

And why you all ripping UofI? It still attracts people from the world over and is very highly rated.

Comment by Ron Monday, May 7, 18 @ 2:21 pm
- Ron -

The colleges make up the university.

Good try.

I fed you. Good luck.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 7, 18 @ 2:23 pm
==And why you all ripping UofI?==

Why are you always ripping everything in Illinois except Chicago and the U of I?

I graduated from ISU and I can tell you that it was a solid school when I was there. Enough with your constant bad mouthing because it grows very tiresome.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, May 7, 18 @ 2:59 pm
Ron,

I recommend this big-picture piece on the demise of the Midwest’s universities, which provides a better overview than any blog comment:

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/10/midwestern-public-research-universities-funding/542889/

Comment by dbk Monday, May 7, 18 @ 3:07 pm
Thank you @dbk. By the time I found the article I saw that you had posted the link. Excellent article.

Comment by illini Monday, May 7, 18 @ 3:14 pm
==We we’re talking about top rated universities, not highly rated schools in University.==

No employer or grad school cares if you were in a “top rated university” they want to know about the department you were in.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, May 7, 18 @ 3:24 pm
Pot - maybe Ron thinks “top rated university” is earned through athletic contests or those frequently cited news magazine ranking lists… [eyes rolling]

Comment by morningstar Monday, May 7, 18 @ 3:43 pm
Word- perhaps you don’t read the WSJ. But on page 1 the paper cites many States are enjoying unexpected surges in revenue resulting in surpluses. Obviously not Illinois

Comment by Sue Monday, May 7, 18 @ 3:52 pm
U of I Champaign is a top engineering, math and accounting school. The Chinese are very sophisticated when it comes to universities and if you haven’t noticed- there is a huge Chinese student population

Comment by Sue Monday, May 7, 18 @ 3:54 pm
–Word- perhaps you don’t read the WSJ. But on page 1 the paper cites many States are enjoying unexpected surges in revenue resulting in surpluses.–

Perhaps you don’t read, or can’t recall, your own posts. It was something-something “our citizens know the score and are leVing in the hundreds of thousands for better managed states.”

You’re not making any connection at all.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 7, 18 @ 3:56 pm
===U of I Champaign is a top engineering, math and accounting school. The Chinese are very sophisticated when it comes to universities and if you haven’t noticed- there is a huge Chinese student population===

Alabama, Iowa State, Iowa, Purdue, Wisconsin, Western Michigan… say thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 7, 18 @ 3:58 pm
Actually, WIU has the highest pass rate on the 2017 CPA test …but I am sure this will get lost here

http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=15384

Comment by IBE Monday, May 7, 18 @ 4:19 pm
And Chicago loves the graduates of all those schools.

Comment by Ron Monday, May 7, 18 @ 5:30 pm
===And Chicago loves the graduates of all those schools.===

And yet, Rauner and Rahm both know exceptional higher education is a factor to woo companies like Amazon.

It’s nice outside, - Ron -…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 7, 18 @ 5:37 pm
It’s very nice out OW. Why not consolidate some state schools and focus on the strengths we have. We really don’t need so many schools with our rapidpy declining and aging population.

Comment by Ron Monday, May 7, 18 @ 5:42 pm
===Why not consolidate some state schools and focus on the strengths we have. We really don’t need so many schools with our rapidpy declining and aging population===

Wonder why no one will run a campaign on that, especially downstate…

(Sigh)

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 7, 18 @ 5:47 pm
SIUC is running a consolidation strategy on its own terms. And it has very little to do with this governors actions(or lack of).

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, May 7, 18 @ 6:32 pm
What everyone is overlooking is that the community colleges in Illinois offer an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) which allows the holder to take the test to become a Registered Nurse (RN). What the problem is, is that hospital will not hire RNs with just an ADN. Ther want RNs with a BSN only for rating purposes. If you notice both holders of ADN and BSN degrees take THE SAME LICENSING TEST. So to increase the availability of RNs, the Legislature only has to pass a bill that will mandates hospitals in Illinois hire RNs with either a ADN or BSN at the same starting rate. Case closed

Comment by Frank Ambrose Monday, May 7, 18 @ 7:19 pm
==And yet, Rauner and Rahm both know exceptional higher education is a factor to woo companies like Amazon.==

Just as Amazon is considering Boston for the strength of its UMass system.

Comment by City Zen Monday, May 7, 18 @ 8:13 pm
Wasn’t that long ago when EIU was one of the best values based on US News &World Reports. It’s still doing well but not as highly rated as it had been in the past. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-midwest/top-public

Comment by Sense of a Goose Monday, May 7, 18 @ 10:26 pm
Frank Ambrose, if the core nursing classes are the same, what does having a Bachelor’s degree bring to the table? If I’m dying on a hospital bed it’s really important that my nurse took an interpretation of poetry class./s
I’ve know people who have gotten nursing jobs straight from community college but that was before the era of hospital mergers. It’s too bad, this makes nursing as a career out of reach for poor people. And talk about fake news. Running to the press and complaining about a nursing shortage while turning perfectly good nurses away.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, May 8, 18 @ 6:13 am