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Metropolitan State University President Calls for Increased Public Funding of College

Posted on: Tuesday, 23 January 2007, 15:00 CST

Wilson Bradshaw, president of Metropolitan State University, called for public funding of at least the first year or two of college in order to bridge the education gap in Minnesota. Speaking to the Rotary Club of Plymouth, Minn., on Jan. 18., Bradshaw said, "During the last 10 to 12 years, almost all of the population growth in Minnesota has been in populations of color, yet some of our higher education policies have not acknowledged that change. The traditional Caucasian population is declining in our colleges and universities, and it is not being replaced by other populations. We have a higher education infrastructure that can support a public policy that says everyone who graduates from high school will go on to at least one year of college, publicly funded." Bradshaw's remarks echoed Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's ACHIEVE II initiative, which Pawlenty mentioned during his State of the State speech.

"Minnesota has a growing problem with bringing everyone along to enjoy the quality of life that most of us enjoy," Bradshaw said. "Those who don't enjoy that quality of life are the growing populations. If we want to address the gap in health care, in home ownership and in income, we must first address the gap in education. Without education, people do not have an opportunity to participate in strengthening this democracy and often become a burden on society."

"More education is better for everyone," he added. "We have to find ways to support that. There was a time in this country when an 8th grade education could guarantee an income that would enable someone to purchase a house and raise a family. Somewhere along the line, that became a high school education. An individual could not make a good livelihood without a high school education. In both cases, this country said it was for the common good and found ways to fund it." Today, with just a high school education, an individual in Minnesota is almost destined to live a marginal life of poverty, according to Bradshaw.

Last year, Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis Community and Technical College and Saint Paul College began a five-year demonstration project called the "Power of You." It provides all graduates of Minneapolis and Saint Paul high schools the opportunity to attend the first two years of college at those three institutions tuition free. "I assure you, the students who come through our program won't be a burden on other Minnesotans," said Bradshaw. "They will be contributing citizens, because ultimately that's what education is about in America. It's about strengthening democracy."

"In America, we'll have to find ways to educate more of our students, especially those populations that historically have been underserved by post-secondary education," he said. "I think we can be a model in Minnesota. It is time for those of us in Minnesota to rethink how we provide higher public education. If we do it right, students in our schools will choose to stay and re-energize the economy of our state."

Metropolitan State University, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, provides high-quality, affordable academic and professional degree programs at the bachelor's and master's levels. It is the only state university in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Source: Business Wire

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