Embracing Challenges to Drive Transformation
Originally published in West Virginia Executive Magazine
The university is dying.
That's what national pundits would have us believe with their breathless talk of enrollment droughts and skyrocketing tuition. They point to the closing of institutions and tell us that public contidence in the value of a college degree has never been tower.
So why, when confronted with such a bleak outlook, did I sign up to be the president
of Fairmont State University? I
belleve in the beautiful potential of higher education despite the doubters, and I
am certain that there has never been a more important time to be a university president.
What is true is that higher education is at a crossroads-our actions now will determine our future. I'm not just thinking of West Virginia's colleges and universities, but our state itself. The opportunity to help chart that future as president of a storied school like Fairmont State is simply irresistible.
That opportunity brings responsibility. How can we reshape a campus culture that fosters individual growth and develops the best and brightest future leaders? How do we make sure we serve our communities as good stewards of place? At the same time, how do we maintain a legacy of higher education excellence?
The truth is, there is still no better investment in public dollars than higher education. According to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, every dollar invested in a college campus returns at least $7.46, and this doesn't include such effects as tax revenues and job creation.
Investments in higher education only make sense if those of us who work on campuses fearlessly fulfill our responsibilities. We must ensure that we continue to lead the way in knowledge creation and innovation production and accept our mandate to graduate well-rounded citizens into the workforce.
At Fairmont State, we eagerly own our vision to produce graduates who not only have the skills needed to excel in their professions, but also the leadership qualities for which our civil society is so desperate.
So, is the university dying? No more so than a caterpillar dies when transforming. The best schools, like Fairmont State, face challenges and emerge even stronger for having overcome. We uphold our traditional values, yet embrace an agile philosophy that allows us to view every challenge as an opportunity to evolve.
That's why Fairmont State University so eagerly embraces challenges. Every challenge is an invitation to become a better school, a stronger partner and a more authoritative industry leader. That's the spirit of a university that is very much alive.
