Part 3: Finding All the Puzzle Pieces
By Robert B. Stein
Joining two state agencies is a bit like putting a puzzle together. You think it can be done, but separate pieces must interlock smoothly. Missing pieces will leave a gap and those from other puzzles will not fit.
In this series of blogs I’m attempting to provide an in-depth perspective on the roles and responsibilities of higher education so readers can make an informed decision about creating a single education system for Missouri. I start from the premise that any two related entities like DESE and MDHE can be joined into one efficient and effective structure if care is taken to ensure that it results in true functional integration.
We all know several obvious ways that higher education coordination differs from public K-12 educational oversight, but focusing on the details of our two systems will help illuminate the challenges and opportunities of melding the work of our two education agencies into one.
Students –
College attendance is voluntary, not compulsory, and institutions vie with each other for enrollment. Costs are borne by students and families, with help from federal, state, institutional and private financial aid. Most institutions provide some residency on campus, and they attract significant numbers of students not just from Missouri but from other states and nations. Student cohorts are determined by ability and performance, not by grade level or age and students choose whether to attend full or part-time.Institutions –
Public, independent and proprietary institutions make up the higher education landscape of Missouri and all of them play a significant role in the development of Missouri’s future workforce. Many accreditation processes and agencies come into play, from programmatic to institutional. Student assessment varies according to institution, except in cases where certification is required. Funding for post-secondary institutions comes from federal, state, local and private sources and tuition; some institutions are operated for profit by private companies.Missouri’s colleges, universities and proprietary schools have functions that go beyond education: They attract outside funds to conduct research, provide specialized training for industry, develop and market new products and technologies, broadcast radio stations and provide many other public services that enrich their communities.
Faculty –
Educators at higher education institutions obtain credentials to teach through academic degrees – primarily at the master’s and doctoral levels. They enjoy the academic freedom to compile their own syllabi and create their own course content and structure and are actively engaged in shared governance with administrative leaders on their campuses.Local Boards –
Local citizens elect community college boards and the governor appoints the boards of public four-year institutions and Linn State Technical College. Private colleges have self-perpetuating boards based on their by-laws. The local boards hire and fire presidents, set tuition and admission standards, and make other policy decisions for their institutions.Relationship with Business and Industry –
Institutions work closely with business and industry to conduct research, train employees, advise on coursework, provide equipment and interact with students. Alumni often take an active role by serving on advisory committees or linking their businesses with the institution. Business and industry have a vested interest in the quality of all Missouri’s college graduates.We can only create an effective and efficient unified system of education and avoid undesirable results for Missourians when we look carefully at all the pieces and understand their relationships with one another and how they contribute to the picture as a whole.
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