Higher education concept

Friday, October 3, 2008 10:37 PM CDT

Wisconsin is traditionally ranked at the top or near the top in the quality of education in its public school districts when compared to those in the other 49 states. In fact, our public school systems in Wisconsin are one of the areas people point to when they consider moving to the state or when businesses and industries consider locating here.

But, when we move to the next logical step - post high school education - we drop off some.

In recent years there have been a number of different surveys and a great deal of statistical evidence that shows the per capita income in Wisconsin is below that of many states in the country, and more specifically some of those neighboring states in the upper Midwest.

For example, the 2006 per capita income nationally was $36,714 and that compares to Wisconsin's $34,405, Illinois' $38,409 and Minnesota's $38,859. Michigan and Iowa are a bit below Wisconsin at $33,338 in Iowa and $$33,788 in Michigan.

When those per capita numbers are matched with the number of people who have at least a bachelor's degree, the results are mirrored. It's an inescapable fact that the states with the higher percentage of college graduates will have a higher per capita income.

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That's what Kevin Reilly, president of the University of Wisconsin, has been telling groups when he speaks to them. He's a big supporter of the concept of getting more people with college degrees in Wisconsin.

That obviously would increase the per capita incomes and it would also provide a much larger pool of skilled workers that business and industry can tap into - both existing ones and those considering locating in our fine state.

Along those lines, for about two years now we've been part of a dialogue with some local people and a former resident who all share the same vision that right here in the Watertown area we need more people with more education. People with high school diplomas should be striving for an associate degree, people with an associate degree should be pursuing a bachelor's degree and so on. In addition, we need more people in the skilled trades as well and today all of those also require additional education in addition to learning more on-the-job skills.

That dialogue has taken a number of twists and turns over the last couple years and it's still really in its infancy, but there are some interesting things moving forward.

First of all, we have visited extensively with state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald about this concept. Scott said the Legislature is very much aware Wisconsin, despite being home to the world class University of Wisconsin, still lags in the number of people with college degrees.

Scott, who represents this area in the Legislature, said the Legislature has made it a priority for the university to come up with concepts that will help generate more college degrees.

Through his work at the legislative level, Fitzgerald has a solid relationship with Reilly.

Some months ago, we met with Fitzgerald, Reilly and several others in Fitzgerald's Madison office to explain the broad vision we have to get more college classes taught right here in Watertown. Initially, we thought the president would think we're a bit crazy by asking for something along those lines, but it was quite the contrary. He embraced the concept, saying this is the exact charge the university has been given.

He in turn scheduled another meeting in Scott's office but this time brought along David Wilson, chancellor of UW Colleges. The enthusiasm continued in that conversation and the outcome was a meeting of about 20 area community leaders which was hosted in the board room of Bethesda Lutheran Home and Services several months ago. Wilson spoke at the informal session, providing statistics and possibilities which were basically “food for thought” for everyone.

Since that time Chancellor Wilson and his staff have been hard at work to see how the university could help in this broad mission. He has met several times with Dr. Bettsey Barhorst, president of Madison Area Technical College, which includes the Watertown campus, and she and he have agreed that some form of partnership certainly could be a part of that mix.

It's a little early to tell just where this concept will go, but real work is being done. Chancellor Wilson told our group in Fitzgerald's office that he has brought the concept of some classes here in Watertown to the UW Board of Regents and the feedback was that he should proceed with planning but to do so with “caution,” as he explained to us.

He also said some form of a survey of existing students at MATC (most of them adults) who may benefit from college classes would be undertaken in the coming months, and he expected that a survey could be expanded to include local and area businesses and industries that may benefit from more educated employees.

All of this is very exciting news and it also could have a tremendous positive impact down the road if even some of this comes to fruition.

At this point we have been impressed at how well the University of Wisconsin Colleges leadership has embraced at least the concept. Every project has to start with a few small steps and that's kind of where we are now. But, imagine if Watertown and area residents could end up taking college credit courses here in Watertown, taught by professors from Madison Area Technical College and then from the University of Wisconsin, all leading to a bachelor's degree. That would be simply amazing!

Along with the broad vision of college offerings in Watertown, the hope of some of us is that eventually a campus could be developed here, and with that could come some very interesting opportunities - like a performing arts center, a museum district and many other amenities. Again, all of these are “pie-in-the-sky” ideas, but nothing happens if you can't dream a little bit.

Will something positive happen on this education front? Time will tell but we do like the initial reception. There have been some overall conversations with various people for upwards of two years now and there seems to be a bit of traction.

And, as we look around in our community, there are a lot of jobs and careers that will require some advanced education. Look at the opportunities in health care, whether it's the new partnership with the hospital and UW Hospitals, Marquardt, Golden Living, our doctors and clinics, Bethesda and others. There are many skilled positions needed and they are not all directly in health care - there are managers, accounting people and many others within the broad area of health care.

Then, there's our growing educational system, from Maranatha to the Watertown schools, our parochial schools, Luther Prep, and that's only within the corporate city limits. Many of those positions require college degrees and continuing education. Maranatha provides accredited degrees but an institution of that type will always have a need for more classes for students and faculty.

This doesn't even touch on the private sector which also has many positions requiring special skills and knowledge.

An opportunity in this area to get college courses leading to college degree would be a wonderful opportunity. Time will tell.

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