1 Higher Education and the Democratic Experiment SHEEO Higher Education Policy Conference August 11, 2011

2 One hundred million Americans are in families that make less in real income than their parents did at the same age.

3 Companies with revenues of $5 billion and over are expected to take an estimated 350,000 jobs offshore in the next two years alone. By 2020, interest alone on the total U.S. debt will reach $900 billion per year. The future is that of the division between the geriatric set and the pediatric hopefuls.

4 Distribution of Total U.S. Population by Race/Ethnicity, % 12% 15% 5% 1% White Black Hispanic Asian-PI Native American Multiracial Source: NCES 2010

5 Distribution of U.S. Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2007 (Under Age 18) 57% 14% 21% 4% 1% 3% Source: NCES 2010 White Black Hispanic Asian-PI Native American Multiracial

6 Between 1977 and 1989, the top 1 percent of America’s richest saw their income rise from $323,942 to $576,553 The average middle-class income between 2000 and 2007 fell $1,175, while expenses rose $4,655 Increasing wage inequality

7 In the mid-1960s, only 29 percent of voters thought “big interests” ran the nation. By the mid-1990s, that number climbed to 76 percent. In 2008, 80 percent of Americans surveyed believed government was controlled by “a few big interests looking out for themselves.” For the benefit of all?

8 Unemployment rate in 2009 among year olds was 19.1 percent and 19.7 percent among year olds In 2009, 9.1 percent of the people who filed for bankruptcy earned $60,000 a year or more, up from 4.7 percent in 2005 In 2007, 14.7 percent of American households had debt totaling more than 40 percent of their annual income

9 Anger building across America

10 The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ranked U.S. 25 th in math and 21 st in science among 30 developed countries. Ranked top 10 percent of American students 24 th in the world in math literacy.

11 Percentage of Male Inmates in Prisons and Jails, by Race, Hispanic origin, and Age: June 2006 Total includes American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders. Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2006

12 Skills Required for Sustainability Ability to analyze and clearly present a problem Capacity to bring multiple perspectives and solutions to any problem Ability to listen and draw conclusions Ability to hear and read what is implied not simply what is stated Ability to act when conclusions are drawn Ability to laugh at yourself

13 What is your role? Higher education must educate for competencies and mature reflection Higher education institutions must become part of the community Higher education must encourage creativity and entrepreneurship

14 Ronald A. Williams Vice President The College Board Contact information