The only thing "getting blurred" is Bredesen's "vision" for higher education in Tennessee.
I am growing weary of the governor's posturing and rhetoric on this topic. I am not in or affiliated with higher education but I clearly understand the importance of its role in a strong and thriving community. Bredesen is either incredibly naive about the issues of higher education or is being patently dishonest with the public.
While I understand the governor's desire to build "an educational powerhouse" in Tennessee, I do not see this is as "cut-and-dried" as Bredesen is pitching it. I'm all for beefing up UTK's research funding and improving its ranking but NOT if it is on the backs of the smaller, regional universities. These regional institutions are essential to the economies and health of our communities and we as members of this community should be standing up and shouting right about now. Bredesen will cannibalize UTC and others to feed UTK's budget. It makes me incredulous! And Bredesen's continuing to allude to UTC's attempt to be a "mini-Vandy" is not only completely untrue but as Inspector Bucket has previously stated, offensive. It makes my blood boil, in fact, and is an insult to all of those who teach and work so hard to get these smaller institutions the recognition they deserve.
I have two children who will be ready for college all too soon. I think UTC is an affordable and respectable option. It has become a well-respected and strong regional institution and has done so with very little real assistance from the state. Why would we go backwards from here? I would like to see UTC remain a strong and affordable option for my children. The state should be giving UTC MORE funding...not less.
I would challenge anyone who cares about our community to speak up on this issue. Whether you have children who will attend college or not, this goes far deeper than access to a good education. A strong local/regional university is, as Governor Bredesen so eloquently put it, an "engine(s) for developing the economy of an entire region."
So....if we no longer have strong regional universities that offer graduate programs in nursing, business, etc., where will we get skilled workers for healthcare, education, and the corporate world?
Of course, all of this is assuming that we still HAVE good hospitals or strong corporations after the Governor and the legislators achieve their great "narrowing of focus." How does a community support an Erlanger, or ANY hospital, without a strong university to supply nurses and other highly trained medical personnel?
And....the flagship universities of which Bredesen speaks do not produce employees who automatically stay and contribute in the local community, or even state, for that matter. Top-tier universities produce graduates who typically take their skills elsewhere.
That is, after taking their degrees, these highly-trained professionals leave to work and live in states that have proven that they value education, healthcare, science, and business.
Tennessee: Rocky road to excellence
The only thing "getting blurred" is Bredesen's "vision" for higher education in Tennessee.
I am growing weary of the governor's posturing and rhetoric on this topic. I am not in or affiliated with higher education but I clearly understand the importance of its role in a strong and thriving community. Bredesen is either incredibly naive about the issues of higher education or is being patently dishonest with the public.
While I understand the governor's desire to build "an educational powerhouse" in Tennessee, I do not see this is as "cut-and-dried" as Bredesen is pitching it. I'm all for beefing up UTK's research funding and improving its ranking but NOT if it is on the backs of the smaller, regional universities. These regional institutions are essential to the economies and health of our communities and we as members of this community should be standing up and shouting right about now. Bredesen will cannibalize UTC and others to feed UTK's budget. It makes me incredulous! And Bredesen's continuing to allude to UTC's attempt to be a "mini-Vandy" is not only completely untrue but as Inspector Bucket has previously stated, offensive. It makes my blood boil, in fact, and is an insult to all of those who teach and work so hard to get these smaller institutions the recognition they deserve.
I have two children who will be ready for college all too soon. I think UTC is an affordable and respectable option. It has become a well-respected and strong regional institution and has done so with very little real assistance from the state. Why would we go backwards from here? I would like to see UTC remain a strong and affordable option for my children. The state should be giving UTC MORE funding...not less.
I would challenge anyone who cares about our community to speak up on this issue. Whether you have children who will attend college or not, this goes far deeper than access to a good education. A strong local/regional university is, as Governor Bredesen so eloquently put it, an "engine(s) for developing the economy of an entire region."
Governor seeks one flagship university
So....if we no longer have strong regional universities that offer graduate programs in nursing, business, etc., where will we get skilled workers for healthcare, education, and the corporate world?
Of course, all of this is assuming that we still HAVE good hospitals or strong corporations after the Governor and the legislators achieve their great "narrowing of focus." How does a community support an Erlanger, or ANY hospital, without a strong university to supply nurses and other highly trained medical personnel?
And....the flagship universities of which Bredesen speaks do not produce employees who automatically stay and contribute in the local community, or even state, for that matter. Top-tier universities produce graduates who typically take their skills elsewhere.
That is, after taking their degrees, these highly-trained professionals leave to work and live in states that have proven that they value education, healthcare, science, and business.