Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 16, 1993 TAG: 9302160344
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: THOMAS L. EDWARDS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
PRIVATE COLLEGES CAN HELP SHARE THE LOAD
THE SEVERE challenges faced by the state's colleges and universities in the 1990s have been discussed from several vantage points in the Commentary section. The key question: How can we educate the 65,000 additional students anticipated in Virginia, with worldclass standards, in times of budget restrictions? All colleges and universities, public and private, must play their part in getting the job done.This task of producing with limited resources a greater quantity of higher quality education is absolutely vital to the economic well-being of the state and our own Roanoke Valley. Education lies at the heart of the related issue of revitalizing the economy of Roanoke. As David Goode, chief executive officer of Norfolk Southern, reminded us (Roanoke Times & World-News, Jan. 10), "You have assets - geography, education, cultural assets, land, quality of life, transportation, and - most important - the best people in the world. Team up. Bring together Virginia Tech, Hollins and Roanoke College to add to the industrial base."
The burden on the public universities will be great. The State Council of Higher Education in Virginia makes the case that the public universities and colleges will have to shift some faculty time away from research and toward teaching to handle the crush of new students over the remainder of the decade. As reported in your pages, university presidents and faculty have opposed this move, citing the importance of research to the nation's productivity and ability to compete with other nations. They are right. If the United States is to regain its edge, now is not the time to sap away the research that leads to new ideas and innovations. Yet, access to college must be provided for increasing numbers.
The private institutions - Hollins College and Roanoke College, locally - can play an important role in serving these students. For each Virginia resident attending a private institution, the state of Virginia could pay that college the amount that the student would have cost the state in attending a public institution. A version of this proposal appeared in the state council's recent report. To the extent that private colleges have some spare capacity - and most currently do - no new buildings or staffing would be required. The state could thereby save money on the cost of proposed expansions at the public institutions.
With the proposed state payment for a student educated at a private college, plus the availability of financial aid offered by the college, the cost to a Virginia student attending Hollins or Roanoke College could become manageable. If necessary, a Roanoke student could commute from home, further reducing costs. Whether students come as freshmen or as transfers from Virginia Western or Dabney Lancaster, the private colleges would be important partners with the public institutions in educating the wave of students, and in contributing to the revitalization of Roanoke.
Thomas L. Edwards is dean of graduate studies and international programs at Hollins College.