By Jane Palen
Delivering his State of the State address in Rochester, Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced that he will earmark $3 million for a leadership structure for a proposed four-year university at Rochester. Currently, Rochester has a two-year community college (RCTC) and offers a variety of programs from the University of Minnesota and Winona State University, primarily in graduate areas.

While his announcement was greeted with a standing ovation in Rochester, elsewhere in the state people are still in their seats, wondering if Gov. Pawlenty is serious about the possibility or was simply playing to the hometown crowd.

Rochester is far from being under-served in regard to education. In fact, all of us in southeastern Minnesota can feel good about the educational opportunities in our area. I canít imagine that expanding the Rochester Center to a full-fledged campus of the University of Minnesota is necessary. The main ìUî is less than 100 miles from Rochester. Winona State University, a fine, four-year institution, is even closer. In fact, there are more than a dozen four-year colleges and universities within 100 miles of Rochester, some private, and some public.

To establish a four-year institution would take a large infusion of state funds, funds that could be better used to improve existing educational opportunities.

Funding for Early Childhood/Family Education has been cut. The state does not fund all-day, every-day kindergarten. Yet study after study shows that an investment in the youngest students pays off.

Why spend money to fill a need that isnít there? Across the state, many community colleges and technical schools are fighting to keep their doors open. Students at four- year colleges are facing huge tuition hikes. As the parent of a University of Minnesota student, I have seen tuition increase by double digits every single year for four years as state funding declines. The most recent increase was 12 percent.

There are many students who attend technical and trade schools to learn the special skills that will allow them to seek better jobs and earn more money. For some, that will mean less dependence on government programs. Making educational opportunities available and accessible would be a better use of higher education funds.

Government could do worse than to spend money on education. But the money needs to be spent wisely. In these times of budget squeezes and ìno new taxesî pledges, weíd be better off improving upon what we have and allowing more people the opportunity to seek post-secondary educations. Our existing state schools donít need the competition, and geography is much less an obstacle than money to potential students.

Gov. Pawlentyís is also looking at directing more of the stateís higher education dollars towards students rather than institutions.

In his speech he said, ìUnder this approach, colleges will need to be more accountable to their customers, more responsive to the marketplace and more accountable for results to succeed.î

It always worries me a little bit when we try to make schools conform to a business model. Students are not ìcustomersî who should be driving the direction of our colleges and universities. They are people who should be trying to learn something. Our universities are the leaders in our society. They have a noble purpose, a mission. Letís not start thinking of ìbuyingî education in the same way we think of buying sneakers. That wonít work for anyone.

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