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Task Force outlines plan for Arizona higher education

Improving higher education creates a better workforce and a stronger economy, the Governor's Task Force on Higher Education decided last week.

The task force members approved that their purpose is to create a plan to bring the state into the national and global spotlight and create a knowledge-based economy.

The task force's 16 members were appointed last year by Arizona Gov. Jane Hull to outline ways to improve Arizona's higher education by 2020.

Warren Rustand, the task force chairman, said yesterday that Arizona's current higher education system has positive sides.

"We have a really excellent foundation of which to build to 2020," Rustand said.

The group - which is comprised of representatives from the state's universities and community and private colleges, as well as Arizona businesses - also detailed strategies to obtain five desired outcomes by the year 2020.

The task force's goals for higher education are to create a globally-competitive, knowledge-based business and industry and an educated workforce. The group also wants to enhance education and research, financial investment and develop an organizational structures.

Rustand said technology has to be integrated into higher education in order to build on the foundation.

"We could quickly dissipate the strong resources we have," he said.

University of Arizona President Peter Likins and the other Arizona university presidents were offered the chance to address the task force about its needs.

Likins stated in a letter to the group he would like an investment in the UA's optical science, biomedical, engineering, environmental and information sciences programs.

Funding these areas would benefit the Southwest economy, Likins said.

"As I consider the opportunities and the challenges facing the University of Arizona, I realize with growing clarity that they resonate sharply with the opportunities and the challenges facing the State of Arizona," Likins stated. "We will rise together or we will fall together. We have very little time to choose our future, because the competition is moving fast."

He also stated the UA needs to attract and retain world-class faculty.

Likins was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Jaime Molera, Hull's policy adviser for education and legislative affairs, said the task force must first decide its priorities before it can determine the cost of the plans.

"Our higher education has to be a world class system if Arizona wants to be competitive," Molera said.

He said the UA's programs in optic science, computer science technology - as well as the Arizona Cancer Center - are some of the strong points of Arizona's higher education.

Molera said outlining improvements will help plan the task force's next steps.

"We need to have a better idea where universities can be strengthened," Molera said.

He said people in rural areas need the same access to higher education as people living in urban areas.

He added that Northern Arizona University and UA's education colleges have adapted well to changes in schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Arizona needs higher paid jobs and a better workforce, Rustand said.

"We have a ways to go if we are going to position Arizona to take advantage of an information-based society," Rustand said.

Arizona's college drop-out rate is 50 percent and the state's high school drop-out rate is 25 percent, Rustand said.

"We have a burgeoning population that are less well-educated than could be," Rustand said.

Molera said Hull is pleased with the task force's performance and that it is "on track."

"Ultimately, I think if she is happy with the task force and some of the things the task force has done, I guarantee she will lobby or go to the public and say these are things we need to do," Molera said.

He added Arizona's problems are not unique.

"The issues we're dealing with is the same as 49 other states are dealing with," Molera said.

The task force's next meeting will be March 23 at the State Capitol building in Phoenix.