Ivy Tech/Dr. Benjamin Young

Student Affairs/Reaching Higher 2.0: A New Paradigm in Higher Education

Thanks and acknowledgement of the role of Ivy Tech in our higher education system/Putting Students First/Leadership

New report that came out from the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University -- The Undereducated American which highlights that the United States has been under producing college educated workers since 1980. The implications of this are two-fold –1. Supply isn’t keeping pace with demand. 2. As a result, the value of college degree has gone up and income inequality has grown. Even in the current economic climate when too many graduates are having problems finding jobs, the fact remains that unemployment is twice as high for those without a degree or certificate.

I mention this to begin because I believe that Ivy Tech Community College has a critical role—perhaps the central role in changing this dynamic in Indiana. Yes, we need more degrees but some degrees matter more than others. And we have a shortage of associate degrees, one year certificates and people with quality workforce credentials in areas tied to 21st century workforce needs.

I do worry, as you probably do too, about the expectations we have for Ivy Tech. We’re asking you to educate the populations that have the greatest academic and financial needs. As more and more students enter your doors, I know you are challenged to meet your obligations and our expectations. But we have no other choice. I commend your commitment to helping your students and our state. What you’re doing will in many and significant ways write this chapter in Indiana’s history.

I have now been in this position a little over two years. While the challenges at the commission are also great, I have never had a day when I regretted taking this job. There are some days that certainly try our capacity, but, like you, we consider our work a privilege because the cause is so important. And that cause is, of course, increasing the educational attainment of Hoosiers.

From an internal perspective at the Commission, I believe our biggest challenge is in the area of data development and analysis. It’s much easier to move policy by ensuring that our data are current, accurate and transparent. To that end, we are realigning dollars at the commission to build a more robust data division.

It’s also clear that it’s time to update the state’s higher education strategic plan – Reaching Higher – which was published in 2008. We are beginning the process this summer to develop Reaching Higher 2.0. Our new chairman of the commission, Ken Sendelweck, is meeting with college and university leadership, and I will be beginning a statewide tour in late July – through August to visit each campus and meet with the presidents. The purpose of these visits is to solicit ideas about Reaching Higher 2.0 and as a subset of that discussion to consider refinements to our performance funding formula.

In these past three years much has happened in the world of higher education – I don’t need to tell you that. Among the changes –

The non-traditional student (the ones you tend to serve) are now the majority population in higher education – working, adult, commuter, minority, first generation. A strategic plan that doesn’t consider this change and corresponding demographic changes is out of date.

The economy has tanked and state funding for operating budgets and financial aid have been strained. Unlike in previous economic downturns, it doesn’t appear that this will turnaround in a way that rebuilds from the higher funded years.

Alternative educational offerings have become more prevalent – on-line, competency models, growth in proprietary schools, more user-friendly schedules, and various other models designed to meet the needs of 21st century students.

Emphasis on career and college readiness. While we have always known that K-12 preparation had a large impact on student success in college, the creation of common core standards, new assessments, are focused on reducing the amount of remediation needed in college.

Productivity focus – while colleges and universities have never been intentionally unproductive or inefficient, efficiency has never been as important as now when we’re trying to educate more students with flat or even declining budgets. This was not a specific topic in Reaching Higher.

Mission Differentiation –certainly this was a part of Reaching Higher (sections on research campuses, community college, etc.) but further refinement of mission differentiation will guide the development of this document.

Learning Outcomes – What are students learning? How do we measure what they’re learning? Our convenings this year have been around this topic. K-we discussions about the value of high school diploma are playing out in the higher education arena. Dual credit, AP, early college, 3 year degrees, accelerated models, etc.

Portability – ensuring transfer and career pathways --discussions around common general education core and reducing confusion for students.

State’s economic needs – 60% goal

Today, I want to highlight some of the Commission’s work and ways we are partnering with you in these efforts.

  1. Legislative outcomes: 1. Funding was increased by approximately $10 million a year – due to the performance funding formula and growth in successfully completed credit hours, change in degree, change in low income degree and dual credit. Clearly the growth in the number of students you’re serving 2. Performance funding study 3. Study of Ivy Tech’s 10 year plan and impact of enrollment. 4. Associate degree – 100 percent of financial aid if you get an associate degree before transfer.
  2. Financial Aid:

Up to 2 summer semesters of financial aid

8 year limit imposed on all aid

GPA requirements for all programs

21st Century – sign up in 7th and 8th grade only

Must participate in intervention programs

Must start within 1 year rather than 2 years after high school

Children of vet parent must begin to use aid by age 32

SSACI will no longer fund prisoners; DOC will run programs

Overall funding for SSACI about $280 million/yr. (extra $22 million)

  1. Reaching Higher 2.0 - among issues we’re considering:

Mission differentiation, career and college readiness, portability (transfer and career pathways), productivity, learning outcomes, accountability, state’s economic needs, adult population

  1. Performance funding study

Good news: challenges

  1. Good: More students are focused on higher education that ever before. This includes not only students coming out of high school but our adult population as well.

Challenge: Indiana is digging itself out of a pretty deep hold. 41st in personal per capital income and 41st in the percentage of Hoosiers who have postsecondary credentials. As a country we’ve slipped to 10th in the word in college attainment – down from first.

  1. Good: the relationship between K-12 and higher education is stronger than ever. Standards and preparation and college readiness are the issues of the day.

Challenge: As you know, far too many students enter college, especially Ivy Tech, unprepared for college work and in need of remediation. We are waiting to hear about our application to Complete College America for funding to reinvent remediation. Pilots at Ivy Tech and regional campuses to look at better ways to provide remediation. THIS IS OUR COMMITMENT TO WORK WITH YOU IN ENSURING THAT WE REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF REMEDIATION NEEDED AND WE IMPROVE WHAT IS PROVIDED.

  1. Good: Indiana finally has a true community college system.

Challenge: the growth is dramatic and the needs are great (financial and academic)

  1. Good: Indiana has a robust student aid system based primarily on need. As I mentioned, added $22 million/$280 million/yr.

Challenge: the average grant has significantly decreased because of enrollments. Part-time aid increased but is still quite low and Pell grants may be cut.

  1. Good: Indiana has over 700,000 adults who have some college but no degree. Special initiatives to find these people and find ways to get them back to school

Challenge: While some college is an important step, the ability to gain the maximum benefit is tied to degree or certificate completion. – especially if accompanied by debt. Most indebted graduates ever.

13th highest debt load in the country.

  1. Good: College going population is increasingly reflecting the state’s demographics: more adults, minorities, first generation, working students – majority college population. Even the traditional campus is becoming more non-traditional.

Challenge: as mentioned these students have greater financial and academic needs. Time is the enemy of completion.

  1. Good: higher education is adapting to the needs of these learners through alternative delivery systems, including on-line, competency, accelerated models, cohort learning. Ivy Tech is especially nimble in making these adaptions.

Challenge: we need to ensure academic quality as we reinvent higher education – completion and learning are not incompatible

  1. Good: Higher education is increasingly being seen as a key contributor to reinventing our state’s economy. Economic Vision 2025/Partnership for Indiana’s Future

Challenge: We have not adequately matched the needs of the economy and the employers with the higher education agenda

The work that you do in the areas associated with Student Affairs are tied directly to our success goals. It’s not enough to get students to college: we need to help them succeed in whatever their goals are to improve their lives and the future of our state. Please know that we want to be your partners in this important work and look forward to assisting you in meeting your challenges and in celebrating with you your successes.