JANE WELLMAN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON UNIVERSITY COSTS AND COMPACTS CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA 15 JULY 2008 University-community partnerships for a public agenda for higher education: shifting alliances and new coalitions

Opinion research increasingly used to anchor public outreach strategies Longitudinal research from several sources shows consistent findings Strongly favorable public opinion about higher education - but higher negative perceptions among opinion leaders Widespread understanding that higher education is increasingly a necessity – not just for the few Concern that qualified students are being denied opportunities because of high tuitions - greatest among Latino and black populations 2

Themes from opinion research Reach out to disadvantaged Need for greater accountability and responsiveness Need for greater productivity Need for greater efficiency 3

Growing skepticism about higher education Worry about lack of opportunity is higher than ever Qualified students are denied opportunity: 47% (2000) 62% (2007) Institutions could spend less without compromising quality: 56% (2007) Increased spending is producing more learning: 48% (2007) Colleges care more about the bottom line (52%) than in educating students (43%) % believe States higher education system needs to be completely overhauled (v. 39% in 1998) SOURCES: NCPPHE, Public Agenda 4

Building new coalitions Business community leadership: Business-Higher Education coalitions in place in almost every state Linked to community-organizations in many states Primary focus at state level on K-20 pipeline: teacher education, high school academic preparation, standards-based reform National focus on STEM (scientific, technical, engineering, math) disciplines; R&D funding; improving graduate education 5

Community-based coalitions to drive systemic reform Build demand for public agenda (commissioning research and influencing opinion leaders) Build linkages between K-12 and postsecondary – Alignment of high school graduation with college entrance requirements Improve teacher education Public policy advocacy – including issues traditionally avoided by institutions (governing board appointments, tax/spending policies outside of higher education, workforce policies) 6

Examples: Campaign for College Opportunity ( Virginia Business-Higher Education Council New York Business-Higher Education Roundtable of the Capital Region Texas Governors Council Michigan Cherry Commission Arizona Business & Education Commission National Business-Higher Education Forum 7

Strengths/weaknesses Agenda defined by public rather than institutional interests: workforce development, minority student preparation, accountability, productivity, quality Credibility from broad coalition – including community-business partnerships – but can be perceived as insiders in some states Weak institutional capacity: cant implement reforms, no regulatory or direct policy capacity Voluntary organizations, changing leadership 8