In Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s crowded Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom, SIU System President Glenn Poshard addressed more than 600 faculty, staff and students Thursday to talk about the challenges facing higher education, and the institution’s successes and strengths.
At the top of Poshard’s agenda were key national and state initiatives for higher education, including:
• Preventing students from being left behind by the educational system
• Boosting educational performance
• Building a steady, progressive enrollment
• Remaining an affordable University
• Maintaining fiscal stability
• Maintaining safety and security on campus
• Expanding competency based on offering online educational opportunities
• Continuing to build on the University’s strong sense of community
Poshard stood behind a podium on a stage flanked by two big-screens displaying a PowerPoint presentation of his messages for the day. One of the slides listed SIUE’s Points of Pride, which is a document that includes references to the University’s national accolades, including being placed among the Top 50 master’s universities in the nation by Washington Monthly; repeated national recognition as being among the top 15 public universities in the master’s granting category in U.S.News & World Report, most recently in the Best Colleges of 2013 edition; ranking as the 21st in the nation among the nation’s top 50 safest colleges by The Daily Beast, participation in NCAA Division I athletics and more.
Reading off these points, Poshard noted: “When you walk on this campus, you can’t help but feel the energy. What you’ve got here is a community. If you lose that sense of community, you will never get these points of pride again. You’re special—a very special University.”
He talked about the gravity of the state’s financial crisis and decreased national funding in the wake of increased pressure to spark enrollment, improve retention and keep costs as low as possible. Furthermore, Poshard discussed the potential long-term impact such issues could have on the institution if efforts to increase alternative funding sources are not successful.
Touching on the state’s pension system, Poshard talked about the reality that employees would be required to increase financial contributions in coming years. He impressed upon the crowd the need to focus on the institution’s building enhancements, which will pave the way for greater enrollment potential. He congratulated SIUE on its successful marketing and outreach efforts, which have resulted in the institution’s positive reputation.
“In the state, we’re in the worst economic condition in our history. We’ve been in economic decline for years,” Poshard said, calling upon employees to take the charge in pouring their resources into the institution’s future success and accomplishments.
Poshard talked about two states of Illinois: One with educated people with bright futures and the second with people struggling to make ends meet, unable to afford the means to improve their situations. He stressed the institution’s focus should be on providing opportunities to students coming from lower-income backgrounds. By giving students from the second Illinois a shot at attending and graduating from a University, he said the institution is increasing the likelihood that these individuals will be successful, thus improving the chances for success of the state and the nation.
Providing perspective, Poshard spoke of his own experience as a young man growing up in a low-income family, and the opportunities he has since enjoyed thanks to higher education. “I am forever grateful for what higher education did for me and my family. I have a true concept of what it means for those from lower-income backgrounds to have that ticket to the middle class.”