College in Maine Smarter Maine People Smarter Maine People Better Maine Jobs Brighter Maine Future

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council Members of the Maine Higher Education Council are:  The Presidents of 33 public and private colleges and universities in Maine  The Chancellor of the University of Maine System  The President of the Community College System  The Commissioner of Education and the Department of Education Director of School Support Systems

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council About Maine’s Colleges and Universities  We service over 64,000 students  75% of our students are from Maine  Our campuses are located in all reaches of the state  Students all over the world are taking thousands of web-based credit hours from Maine colleges and universities

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council Benefits to Maine’s Economy…  We provide nearly 14,000 jobs  And an additional 5100 work-study jobs  Wages and salaries = $500 million annually  Combined operating budgets total nearly $800 million  30% goes to purchase goods and services directly from Maine vendors

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council More Benefits to Maine’s Economy…  Nearly $200 million in capital projects currently under construction  Approximately $65 million drawn to Maine annually for R&D projects  Out of state students bring $ with them  Colleges and Universities contribute dollars and services at the local level

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council Dollars and “Sense” for the Individual…  College graduates earn about $1 million more over a lifetime than those who are only high school graduates  Associate degree holders earn 17% more  Bachelor degree holders earn 49% more  Advanced degree holders earn 205% more

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council Dollars and “Sense” for Maine’s Economy…  As earnings rise, unemployment falls  Increased earnings translate into higher tax revenues and increased spending

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council We’re A Very Stable Industry in an Unstable Economy…  Higher education jobs are projected to grow nearly 23% through 2012  Enrollments are up  Higher education is one industry where employment and enrollments tend to increase even in economic hard times

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council So What Are We Worried About?  Not enough Maine residents go to college  Many of those that do are not “college ready”  Workforce needs are changing, forcing colleges and universities to adapt quickly  More competition for fewer students  Increased federal scrutiny

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council Not Enough Maine Residents Go To College  Maine has one of the top high school completion rates in the country, but only 50% go on to college

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council Many High School Graduates Are Not College Ready  42% of first-year students are unprepared for college  Remediation costs BILLIONS of dollars  Remediation hurts Retention & Graduation Rates

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council Post-Secondary Education Source: Kirst, M. (2004). The high school/college disconnect. Educational Leadership, 62(3),

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council Increased Federal Scrutiny  The Commission on the Future of Higher Education released its report in September 2006  Secretary Spellings priorities include: –Preparing students better for college –Addressing the affordability issue –Holding colleges “accountable” for student records and outcome data

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council What We’re Doing…  Working collaboratively with each other, Maine Readiness Campaign, DOE and others to improve college readiness in Maine  Being accountable for college academic progress through the accreditation and assessment process.  Communicating about:  Who we are and why Maine is the best location for education  What courses a student needs to be ready for college  How to apply and pay for college

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council What Maine Legislators Can Do…  Invest in higher education at every opportunity  Advertise the superior quality, diversity, and importance of Maine’s colleges and universities  Keep long-term benefits in mind when making short-term budget decisions  Pass the Revised Maine Learning Results

Legislative Breakfast 2007Maine Higher Education Council Thank you!