Presidents and chancellors signed a letter to President Obama and Congress warning against cutting higher education funding and investments in research.
University leaders from each state banded together last week to dissuade the nation's political leaders from cutting federal funding.
Students walk through campus at Georgetown University in Washington, on Wednesday, July 10, 2013
About 165 university presidents and chancellors signed a letter to President Obama and Congress warning against cutting higher education funding and investments in research while other nations are pouring money into these areas — an issue they refer to as the "innovation deficit."
The letter states reduced university funding would result in adverse consequences, including less-prepared graduates and fewer technological or scientific breakthroughs in the United States.
Members of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Association of American Universities (AAU) teamed up to author the letter.
"No matter what party you are or what political philosophy you might have or ideology you might have, this is something we feel every member of Congress should get behind," says Jeff Lieberson, APLU vice president of public affairs.
The letter says university research has led to the discovery of inventions ranging from touchscreens to lasers to life-saving vaccines.
"All these things have enormous economic potential and have in some cases spurred entire new sectors of the economy," Lieberson says.
The organizations released the letter last week so legislators would have a chance to see it before they recessed for the remainder of the summer. During the break, Lieberson hopes some congressional members and university leaders will get together to discuss the letter.
AAU Vice President of Public Affairs Barry Toiv says the amount of support for the letter is widespread.
"These universities range from large to small, private to public, urban to rural, and across all 50 states and the District of Columbia," he says. "This is truly a nationwide expression of concern for our country's future."
The letter warns the nation's leaders that other countries such as "China, Singapore, and Korea" have heavily increased funding in higher education — growing at two to four times the rate of U.S. research. America also ranks 12th among the world's developed countries in number of young people with college degrees, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The letter's values coincide with several universities' strategic plans for their campuses, such as President Lou Anna Simon's "Bolder by Design" plan at Michigan State University. One of the plan's goals is to "enrich community, economic and family life" through multiple facets, including innovation and research.
"It is imperative that all of our universities maintain their levels of excellence by continued investment in research and education," Simon said in a statement.
University of Arizona President Ann Weaver Hart says the letter relates to her campus' efforts to encourage innovation to improve quality of life — a pillar of the university's "Never Settle" strategic plan.
"The innovation deficit is jeopardizing our nation's role as the world's innovation leader," Hart said in a statement.
nnew3670ed 06 Aug, 2013
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Source: http://www.educationnews.com/2013/08/06/universities-warn-national-leaders-against-cutting-funds/
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