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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Tim McDonough
(202) 939-9365
tim_mcdonough@ace.nche.edu
Statement by American Council on Education President David Ward on
the Final Meeting of the Spellings Commission on the Future of Higher
Education
Washington, D.C. (August 10,
2006)—“Nearly a year ago I accepted the invitation
of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings to serve on a national
commission that would consider the future of American higher education
and the policy decisions that could enhance that future. I was
glad to accept this invitation, because I—like many of the college
and university presidents I represent—believe that while our
country’s system of higher education remains among the best in the
world, we also face the challenges of maintaining that stature.
Some of these challenges come from abroad, from the increasingly
competitive global marketplace in which our nation must compete
economically and for which our institutions are relied on as a continued
source of innovation. Other challenges are closer to home, such as
the need to attend to critical issues of affordability, access, and
accountability that threaten our ability to serve students, families,
and the nation’s long term economic, social and creative
needs.
I value and recognize the investment of time and resources that the
commission has dedicated to this important endeavor. Together, I
believe we have learned a great deal about the strengths and weaknesses
of our enterprise, and have developed some ideas and areas for future
research that will strengthen colleges and universities and the
communities they serve.
However, as I review the final draft report in its entirety, I regret
that I cannot sign it as a commissioner nor fully support it.
Despite improvements with each successive draft, there remain several
issues of serious concern to me—particularly as I look ahead to
the challenges of implementing the report’s recommendations, with
which I will inevitably be directly involved. For example, many of
the problems cited in the report are the result of multiple factors but
they are sometimes attributed entirely to the limitations of higher
education. The recommendations as a whole also fail to recognize the
diversity of missions within higher education and the need to be
cautious about policies and standards based on a one-size-fits-all
approach. Beyond my disagreement over some recommendations, it is in the
end my belief that our solutions should be built upon the strengths of
higher education rather than on inferences that could project a false
sense of crisis. I would have preferred more emphasis on “best
practices” both in public policies and in the conduct of higher
education.
Still, I applaud and join my colleagues in defining the critical issues
and problems that we face. Appropriate actions are indeed
necessary but some of the solutions and the arguments upon which this
report are based trouble me. Change in higher education is needed but we
need to get it right and above all do no harm. The vast majority of
college and university presidents are willing, even anxious, to tackle
issues such as accountability, affordability, and access in a proactive
way. Given more time, I believe we might have achieved great
things—but as it stands, I believe I can be more effective in this
continuing dialogue if I am free to contest some aspects of this report.
Without doubt the Commission has identified and confronted absolutely
critical issues that must be addressed.”
Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the
nation's higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university
presidents, and more than 200 related associations, nationwide. It seeks
to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education
issues and influence public policy through advocacy, research, and
program initiatives.
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