Higher Education Task Force Focuses on Issues

Vern Lamplot
Jan. 17, 2000


Without changes in Arizona's economy the state will be unable to sustain its current level of investment in higher education, consultants reported to the Governor's Task Force on Higher Education on Jan. 13.

The problem, Aims McGuinness told the group of Arizona education and business leaders, is the large number of retirees who will move into the state along with a large number of young people, both groups unequipped to contribute to the New Economy.

Gov. Jane D. Hull formed the task force last fall to develop an overall strategy for the future of higher education in the state. On Jan. 13, the group heard several presentations outlining present and future needs of an Arizona economy based on knowledge and innovation rather than manufacturing and agriculture.

McGuinness said that Arizona has many things going for it: a focused university system, good state leadership and a level of public awareness about the new economic reality.

However, he said, Arizona's high technology infrastructure is concentrated in the central part of the state, leaving out a significant percentage of its population. Despite Arizona's infrastructure development, its uneven distribution will create a declining capacity to support even the current level of expenditure.

Earlier, Craig Barnett, CEO of Intel Corp., told task force members by videotape, "Let's work to create top-flight status for our universities," he said. "Top notch research universities are the vehicle to create wealth for the state. Establishing high-ranking universities will require funding, commitment and long-term direction," he said.

The consultants agreed, saying that Arizona's universities must drive wealth creation to allow the state to continue its investment in higher education. And they said the issue for the task force is to form a plan that removes barriers to participation in the New Economy and encourages policies that support state economic development. And they admitted that there aren't many examples of states that have accomplished it.

If you look at the states that rank highly within the Morrison Institute's Study of the New Economy, McGuinness said, there is little observable connection between policy initiatives and rankings. He said looking at Colorado, one of the high-ranking states, a number of companies reported they located there "because our principal wants to live there. It's totally a quality of life issue," he said.

The task force listed some of the major issues its report must address. UA President Peter Likins said the major question for the group was, how can we create in Arizona a healthy, diverse economy with a high quality of life?

"What we need to ask ourselves is what can we do as part of the task force to identify those pieces involving higher education that can contribute to those goals, knowing it won't be the total picture," he said.

Share

Resources for the media