A predicted “enrollment cliff” is on the horizon for higher education. The national birthrate is the lowest in recorded history. Fewer college-ready high school graduates are being produced, and fewer of those are enrolling. Reality coupled with skepticism regarding the value of various college degrees is on the rise. Post-COVID wage increases have reached the point where many entry-level jobs requiring a high school education compete with vocations which typically have required a college degree. Students are rethinking the college experience. The phenomenon is particularly pronounced at regional institutions.
Regional universities are typically smaller institutions where enrollment is less than 10,000 students, are often in rural regions with entry requirements lower than the national research universities and have been attractive to about half of the students who enroll in universities in the United States. The world is changing. With decreased college students available and fewer choosing college, the ferocious appetite of flagship state universities and prestigious private universities is growing. Big-name institutions are working harder and harder to recruit more and more students from locations previously overlooked. All of this means that widely dispersed regional institutions—the economic engines in rural areas, places of pride for students, faculty, staff and problem solvers for regional communities—must redefine excellence to be attractive to the changing student population.
Regional universities provide educational opportunities to populations who might not otherwise have access, including students from rural areas or those who prefer to stay close to home due to family or work commitments. Engagement with local communities leads to partnerships benefiting students, local businesses and regional governments, resulting in economic growth, cultural enrichment and community development for the benefit of all. Specialized degrees in agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and other industries predominant in a university’s region should be paramount. Regional institutions make higher education more accessible while reducing student debt, with smaller class sizes, more personalized learning experiences, easier interaction with faculty and better institutional support for individual students. Regional universities play a crucial role in preserving and promoting local culture and traditions through specialized programs and courses that focus on regional history, languages and arts. Regional universities can offer a skilled workforce tailored to the needs of local industries, thereby supporting and enhancing the regional economy. Most importantly, regional universities can collaborate face-to-face with local high schools’ teachers and administrators to enhance educational opportunities which prepare students for higher education and workforce readiness. For example, dual enrollment programs allow high school students to take college-level courses and earn course credits for both high school and college graduation requirements.
Regional universities define excellence in other ways that prepare students and support communities. Partnerships with high schools to create early college programs where students work toward an associate degree or earn college credits by the time they graduate from high school shorten the time it takes to complete a baccalaureate degree and reduce student debt. University summer camps, workshops and enrichment activities prepare high school students for college-level subjects, research and campus life. Training and professional development opportunities for high school teachers improve their teaching skills and ensure they are updated on the latest educational practices. Research partnerships with high school students create geographically driven and supported opportunities to participate in projects led by university faculty and allow hands-on experience in multiple fields, creating a form of redefined excellence. Programs focusing on preparing high school students for the college application process, including SAT/ACT prep, college essay writing workshops and financial aid information sessions, are especially important to first-generation students.
Regional universities serious about student debt provide the opportunity for students to continue work starting in high school. To live at home and to assist with course materials, all of which significantly reduce costs by as much as 50%, which reduces college indebtedness. The most liberating aspect of free choice in contemporary society is being debt-free.
Regional excellence, driven by collaborations that benefit students, creates a pipeline of well-prepared graduates and, more importantly, enhances the quality of educational opportunities.
West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, is committed to redefining regional excellence for higher education. I encourage students and families to think carefully about the cost/value proposition of a regional research institution that is defining excellence for higher education.
Walter V. Wendler, President of West Texas A&M University. His weekly columns, with hyperlinks, are available at https://walterwendler.com/