The Goodyear Polymer Center on the University of Akron campus. Photo by Flickr user Torrie Fischer.

Scott L. Scarborough, Ph.D., is president of The University of Akron.

I believe the role of public higher education in ensuring the American dream is more crucial today than perhaps at any other time in our nation’s history.

Study after study confirms that a college degree is vital for social mobility in the 21st century. This is particularly true among those seeking to rise from the lowest socioeconomic levels into the American middle class and beyond.

Public universities also exert an economic multiplier effect upon their regional economies. They help attract, develop and retain an educated and talented population that forms the regional workforce and citizenry. They conduct applied research that directly benefits regional business and industry. As major employers, they generate substantial tax revenue for municipalities. And they stimulate business growth among those providing goods and services to the institutions, their students and guests.

And yet, these obvious benefits seem to have been overlooked. RELATED LINKS

“University of Akron to develop new plans for growth, help attract and keep talent in the city with $250,000 from Knight Foundation” — press release, 04/08/15

I say this because in most states, public higher education struggles with declining state funding, while a steady drumbeat of books, editorials and other commentary question the very value of higher education. Combined with demographic shifts and disruptive technological innovations, these factors require the public higher education business model to evolve to remain relevant and true to its mission.

In the late 20th century, Akron, Ohio, weathered the transition from a heavy-industry economy to a knowledge-based one. This evolution was significantly aided by the polymer research capabilities of The University of Akron, and today the city and university continue their century-old symbiotic relationship. Both have enjoyed considerable support from Knight Foundation.

The Knight brothers founded Knight Foundation in Akron, and the foundation has generously supported numerous projects to expand economic opportunity and attract and retain talent in its erstwhile hometown. In 2015 alone, the foundation has announced several major gifts, including more than $2 million to fund 15 projects across a broad spectrum of organizations, and will debut the Knight Arts Challenge in Akron this summer.

The University of Akron also has received great support from Knight Foundation over the years to promote economic development in the city and region. Now Knight has committed another $250,000 to The University of Akron. This time, however, the intent is not to promote external change, but to drive internal change to better serve the community.

Since August 2014 the university’s nine degree-granting colleges have engaged in an intense review and strategic planning process. At the same time, campus summits were held with representatives of several groups – students, faculty, staff and the community – to update the institutional strategic plan.

This broad process already has led to a reevaluation of our organizational structure, as well as our enrollment strategies and initiatives.

There is a great consensus and determination among the people devoted to our university to raise its visibility, to focus resources on areas of distinction, and to preserve and advance our mission of ensuring social mobility in this region.

While our mission must remain unchanged, our methods of achieving it most assuredly cannot.

We will apply Knight Foundation’s support to developing, assessing and implementing the ideas and recommendations that will contribute to the university’s success and position it as a continuous source of new talent in Akron and the region.