The Changing Face of Public Higher Education

Public higher education is at a crossroads. The dramatic decisions made by states during and soon after the Great Recession drove extraordinary increases in tuition and, in many cases, a spike in student debt. The question before us is how to continue to deliver on our missions of teaching, research and public service in the presence of ongoing budget challenges. Options to be explored included public-private partnerships, educational efficiencies, and a refocusing of priorities, with an emphasis on the STEM fields.