Important test
Thursday, August 27, 2009
TRUE OR FALSE: Kansas has at least one national university ranked in the top 90 in the nation.
False.
That’s why Gov. Mark Parkinson, in one of his most no-nonsense addresses since his term began earlier this year, issued the Kansas State Board of Regents a test on Tuesday — to develop a 10-year plan to meet higher academic goals and achieve better results at our higher education state institutions.
“All of us take pride in the rankings of our football and basketball teams,” Parkinson told the Regents. “We would not be satisfied if we didn’t have a single sports team in the top 90; so why are we satisfied that we don’t have a single university in the top 90?”
“I’m not satisfied,” the governor said. “It’s far more important to me that we have a university academically in the top 20 than that we have a basketball or football team in the top 20.”
When was the last time a Kansas governor delivered such a sobering message regarding the state’s higher ed insitutions? And when was the last time our governor laid out a plan demanding more rigorous standards of excellence from them?
We think Gov. Parkinson deserves an A+.
Citing U.S. News and World Report, Parkinson made a clear case for underachievement when it comes to our Kansas higher education institutions. The University of Kansas is ranked 96th among 260 national institutions. The other state schools are so low they aren’t even individually ranked.
In spite of a dismal state budget year, the governor laid out his vision for academic accountability for the next decade. And it was not offered as a case for multiple choice.
Specifically, the governor called for all of the following:
• At least one national university in the top 50, most likely KU.
• A second university ranked in the top 100, most likely Kansas State University.
• No Kansas institution in the fourth tier.
• Improve rankings for specialty programs like the medical school at KU and the veterinary medicine school at K-State.
• Improvement of retention and graduation rates above the norm for peer institutions and above the national norm.
It is certainly an ambitious vision laid out by the governor, but one we need. If Kansas wants to compete for the best and brightest graduates from far and near, failing at making our schools better is not an option. The implications for our state are too important. When students choose to stay in Kansas to become the best teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers or veterinarians they can be, chances are that they will start their careers here, too.
“I have become concerned at the level of complacency in this state,” Parkinson told reporters, following his address. “My hope is to do some of these things in the next legislative session.”
The legislature, however, is just part of the equation.
First, the responsibility rests on the Regents, to respond enthusiastically to the governor’s challenge, to put the plan in motion. It will be up to them to use their position to influence, challenge and hold our state’s education executives to a higher level of achievement.
Will they pass the test?
Ashley Walker
Projects Editor
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
It would be interesting to see if there was any correlation between rank and State funding over the years. I wonder if rank drops in conjunction with less funding... Hmmm....
Our Gov'nuh says, "Yeah, we're giving you less money, but I 'spect you to do better with less! I don't care if you don't have money to expand programs and hire good professors! Bah!"
Seems like you ought to give 'em more money if'n you want them to do better, but that's probably just crazy talk.
August 27, 2009 at 1:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Flint_Hills_Sage (anonymous) says...
A+ to a fine Governor who is very pragmatic and less political than those who served previously. Let's hope he will change his mind and run for a full term.
Brownback, on the other hand, probably just assumes KU and KSU are top tier universities. Oh how wrong he would be.
August 28, 2009 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
By The Associated Press
August 28, 2009 - 7:54am
LAWRENCE - Former University of Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway will continue to collect his chancellor's salary for the next two academic years.
A Kansas Board of Regents memo Hemenway, who is on a one-year sabbatical, will earn $340,352 per year during the next two academic years. He'll also receive benefits such as office space, secretarial support and tickets to Kansas athletic events.
The memo also said former Kansas State University President Jon Wefald will receive $255,298 next year, while former Pittsburg State University President Tom Bryant will get $202,593.
Both Wefald and Bryant will also get office space, reimbursement for moving costs and tickets to athletic events.
Regents chairwoman Jill Docking says none of the men took breaks during their tenures, and they will help with fundraising, teaching and scholarly work at their schools.
August 28, 2009 at 2:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Once you add in the offices and such that will be over 1 million dollars spent for nothing while average Kansan's who have lost their jobs are expected to get by on what,
$180.00 a week?
This should be on every front page over and over until it is recinded.
No wonder people are fed up with government.
August 28, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USNretired (anonymous) says...
Science, Math, Engineering. These are the areas that really matter for a university to excel. Too many BA and BS degrees these days are pure bs and made to fit what the student already feel comfortable with. Lower the standards and you will eventually reach the lowest common denominator ... in the basement! An impoverished nation like India does a continually better job of educating its children, while places like Kansas play ESL games and pity those with no motivation to excel or even find work. You get what you earn in this life, and oftentimes less. Wake up Kansas and look out for your children's futures. We are currently in Virginia for our children, so they can find education (even at out of state tuition rates)and work in jobs that will endure. Kansas continues to slide towards the abyss and cry instead of climbing out. Demand better from the schools!
August 28, 2009 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Maximus (anonymous) says...
Until the Kansas legislature stops slashing the throats of state universities (especially the regionals like Emporia State that don't have multi-million-dollar grants like KU and KSU), Kansas will NEVER have a top-50 university. Kansas universities will be lucky to be in the top-100, if things keep going like they are now. Wake-up citizens of Kansas, the great exodus of university faculty and top-notch students to other states will soon be upon us.
August 29, 2009 at 3:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )