1. The Academic Dimension: Geoscience Workforce Crisis P. Geoffrey Feiss, Provost College of William and Mary 2008 GSA Annual Meeting Session 121-5

2. 22008 GSA 121-6 Questions Can universities effectively respond to industry/society needs? Can universities effectively respond to industry/society needs? How do universities determine their priorities? How do universities determine their priorities? How might the geoscience community impact this process? How might the geoscience community impact this process?

3. 32008 GSA 121-6 Essential Points to Make Higher Education (HE) is a BUSINESS Higher Education (HE) is a BUSINESS The landscape of HE in America is complex The landscape of HE in America is complex Priority setting in HE is highly contested ground Priority setting in HE is highly contested ground Critical to know who sets priorities and how priorities are determined Critical to know who sets priorities and how priorities are determined

4. 42008 GSA 121-6 HE Is a Big Business Public & private, 2- and 4-year institutions of HE spend about $350B/a Public & private, 2- and 4-year institutions of HE spend about $350B/a The HE market is one of the most competitive open markets in America The HE market is one of the most competitive open markets in America Contrary to rumor, we balance our books at the end of each FY Contrary to rumor, we balance our books at the end of each FY Our “products” are highly sought after Our “products” are highly sought after

5. 52008 GSA 121-6 What is the business of HE? To Produce Human and Intellectual Capital

6. 62008 GSA 121-6 Number of HE institutions byCarnegie classification

7. 72008 GSA 121-6 Enrollment in 4-year institutions of HE by Carnegie classification

8. 82008 GSA 121-6 Competition for HE resources -- at the Public Policy Level: Public health Public health War on Terror/security/public safety War on Terror/security/public safety Sustainability, energy, & the environment Sustainability, energy, & the environment preK-12 (-14) education preK-12 (-14) education Globalization/immigration/trade Globalization/immigration/trade Community & economic development Community & economic development Societal infrastructure Societal infrastructure

9. 92008 GSA 121-6 Competition for campus resources -- at the 1000’ Level: New areas of inquiry e.g. neuroscience, Latino studies, proton physics, computational biology, health care policy New areas of inquiry e.g. neuroscience, Latino studies, proton physics, computational biology, health care policy Deferred maintenance Deferred maintenance Declining student aid & increasing tuition Declining student aid & increasing tuition Declining IDC (F&A) Declining IDC (F&A) Study away Study away Community-based learning and research Infrastructure Faculty/staff compensation Campus security Risk management Private fund-raising Bread & circuses for students and alumni

10. 102008 GSA 121-6 Generic issues de jour in much of HE Retention Retention Graduation rates Graduation rates Student demographics Student demographics Transportability of credits Transportability of credits Off-site education Off-site education Outcomes assessment & accountability Outcomes assessment & accountability The rise of the for-profit sector in HE The rise of the for-profit sector in HE

11. 112008 GSA 121-6 HE Decision-Makers Governing boards Governing boards Presidents Presidents CAOs and deans CAOs and deans Major donors Major donors Alumni Alumni Athletic supporters Athletic supporters

12. 122008 GSA 121-6 Others in the Mix Faculty Faculty Parents & students Parents & students The governor and legislators, system actors, bureaucrats and other apparatchiks of varying types (in the public realm) The governor and legislators, system actors, bureaucrats and other apparatchiks of varying types (in the public realm) Feds Feds HE accrediting agencies HE accrediting agencies

13. 132008 GSA 121-6 What motivates HE Decision- Makers? Politics, fear, greed, & lust for power Politics, fear, greed, & lust for powerAlso, Concern for societal needs Concern for societal needs Love of learning Love of learning Deep & abiding memories of times past Deep & abiding memories of times past Genuine excitement at new, entrepreneurial possibilities Genuine excitement at new, entrepreneurial possibilities

14. 142008 GSA 121-6 What can move Geoscience to the List of Institutional Priorities? Appropriateness to mission Appropriateness to mission Enhancing institutional prestige Enhancing institutional prestige Intellectually valid Intellectually valid Sustainable Sustainable Strong champions Strong champions Broad support within key constituencies Broad support within key constituencies Demonstrable ROI Demonstrable ROI Jobs for graduates Jobs for graduates

15. 152008 GSA 121-6 From outside HE, what should you do? Select Select Identify Identify Connect Connect Listen & learn Listen & learn Provide Provide Persist Persist