Does Rhode Island Have a Clear Strategy for Higher Education?
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Just a year ago, Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed pushed forth a reorganization of the states two education boards -- the Board for Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education and the Board of Governors for Higher Education -- into a "megaboard" that would have oversight and give policy direction to drive Rhode Island’s education system and ultimately the economy into a new level of success.
The plan for the new Rhode Island Board of Education was ambitious -- and questioned by some for being developed too quickly without knowing the implications. Others raised concerns that the merging of the boards was unneeded – the issues were not governance, but were financial. The Rhode Island higher education institutions receive the lowest percentage of state support of any of the New England schools.
With the development this week that Governor Chafee's pick for the interim Commissioner of Higher Education post, Eva Mancuso, was being withdrawn, GoLocal took a look at the circumstances -- and controversies -- surrounding the new state Board of Education, and asked education and political leaders as to whether the state has a tenable strategy for overseeing higher education.
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The new education megaboard took effect last year -- and has been anything but an early success. It took months to appoint the initial board, and the first Chair of the Board, former House Majority Leader and current lobbyist George Caruolo, resigned. Following Caruolo's departure, former Attorney General candidate Eva Mancuso was appointed by Chafee as Caruolo’s replacement.
Just several months later, the Governor nominated Mancuso to replace CCRI President Ray Di Pasquale as the interim Commissioner of Higher Education. Di Pasquale had served as both President of the Community College and Interim Commissioner of Higher Education since 2009, and will be stepping down from his duties for the latter in September.
However, within hours of the Mancuso announcement, advocacy groups criticized the decision, citing potential conflicts of interest, specifically the state's revolving door statute.
"We believe Ms. Mancuso’s appointment would result in her being in violation of the Code of Ethics and subject her to prosecution by Ethics Commission," said John Marion with Common Cause of Rhode Island, challenging the veracity of the choice.
On Tuesday, Chafee announced that Mancuso’s nomination was being withdrawn, raising serious questions about the megaboard -- and if Rhode Island has a strategy for higher education.
"The state strategy is to keep tuition low and forget about quality and support of higher education," said URI Distinguished Professor of Business Edward Mazze. "This is easily witnessed by doing away with the Board of Governors, appointing an interim Commissioner of Higher Education, trying to appoint an individual with no experience [other than being a college graduate] with a conflict of interest to the interim commissioner's position then appointing another individual with no experience in higher education [other than being a college graduate] for the interim position and starting a "localized" search for the next commissioner."
Mazze questioned, "Who would want to be Commissioner other than a "turnaround" expert?
Budget Concerns Arise Early
Prior to the controversial higher education appointment, Mancuso had already battled for funding with the General Assembly for the embroiled megaboard. At the time, Mancuso said, "The [budget] cuts the higher ed staff budget - thus, the new board has little ability to move forward with improvements to the system. It does not make sense that the legislature creates a new system one year and then cuts the budget the next. I think the legislature understands education, but doesn't realize what it costs."
Former Executive Director of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council and Fiscal Advisor to the Providence City Council Gary Sasse echoed concerns about the level of funding, "Rhode Island seriously under-invests in public higher education. We are near the bottom in both per capita support and spending per $1000 on income for higher education. We have not assigned it the priority needed so it can make a more meaningful contribution to the economic well being of the people of RI. Therefore, it would be difficult to execute a strategic plan absent a realistic level of support."
However, Sasse questioned in the new pecking order if a Commissioner of Higher Education was needed. "Before the state determines what should be the strengthens of a commissioner we should deal with the fundamental question of do we need a commissioner."
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Deborah Gist barely survived her recent reappointment and was denied her request for a three-year contract extension. Despite vehement opposition from the teachers unions, Gist was granted a two-year extension.
As of today, higher education has an acting leader on loan from elementary and secondary education – Clark Green. Green is a former Carcieri staffer who has admittedly rejected being named permanently to the position.
"Clark Greene’s role will be to lead the search for the next Commissioner of Higher Education, to develop a work plan for the Office of Higher Education, and to work with all parties on a seamless transition to a system that will include early learning, elementary and secondary education, adult education, and the colleges and universities," said RIDE Spokesperson Eliot Krieger.
Differing Views on Higher Ed Strategy
With the most recent development, a number of those involved are optimistic the Board of Education will effectively move forward with guiding the state's higher education strategy.
Rhode Island President Dr. Nancy Carriulo told GoLocal, "I am confident that under the leadership of Governor Chafee and Chair Mancuso, the search for the next commissioner of higher education for the state will be successful. Chair Mancuso is currently working with leaders from the state's institutions of higher education in developing a comprehensive strategy that will carry us through the next several years. I look forward to continuing to work with both the governor and chair, along with my colleagues at URI and CCRI, in developing that strategy."
When asked about the state's strategy for higher education -- and needs in its next commissioner -- a CCRI spokesperson for Interim Higher Eduction Commissioner Di Pasquale declined to weigh in, however. "The President feels it would be inappropriate for him to comment," said Richard Coren with the college.
Some in the education community however had specific thoughts on what was needed for a higher education strategy. "The next higher education commissioner should be eager and willing to collaborate with the pre-K-12 community, particularly at the high school level but starting even earlier, to ensure that all of our students have the tools and knowledge to prepare them for when they enter college or enter the workforce. A particular area of concern that a new commissioner should address is the unacceptable rates of students that require remedial courses entering our state colleges and universities," said Christine Lopes, Executive Director of RI-CAN.
State Senator Lou DiPalma, Secretary of the Senate Committee on Education, acknowledged however a lack of comprehensive strategy at the higher education level. "While I’m well aware of the K-12 Strategic Plan, which goes through 2015, I’m not aware of a current Higher Ed Strategic Plan, though each institution has their own institution-specific strategic plan. I am aware that Higher Ed had created a Systems Vision Task Force in 2008, creating the foundations for a RIBGHE Strategic Plan. I don’t believe a Strategic Plan ever materialized."
When asked what the Board should focus on for the next six months, Di Palma said, "Initiate a review of each of the programs at the colleges/university to determine gaps between current offerings and the needs of business, now and near future, as well as initiate the planning for the development of a Strategic Plan."
"Only time will tell if melding the Board of Education will improve academic efficacy and collaboration among our elementary and secondary schools and public institutions of Higher Ed. or even among our state institutions," said Lisa Blais with OSTPA, who has been actively involved in education reform. "Vocational education has been somewhat of the step-child for too long in RI, That should certainly be on the radar screen for the Board of Education and any one individual who may temporarily fill a role as Commissioner of Higher Education."
Process Questioned
Rhode Island Moderate Party founder and gubernatorial candidate Ken Block was critical of the origins of the new megaboard -- as well as the capacity for a new commissioner to wield any authority, or power. “In 2012, the General Assembly merged the boards for K-12 and higher education without evaluating the consequences of this structural change. This reckless decision was widely-criticized and pulled the rug out from under the administrators responsible for education oversight in Rhode Island," said Block.
He continued, "Our state should hire a higher education commissioner who has expertise, talent and experience. However, I am concerned that the manner in which the General Assembly decides education policy may deter talented candidates from seeking the position. Why would you take this job if you knew that major policy decisions would be made without your input?”
Frank Annunziato, head of the URI/AAUP faculty union, provided his perspective on Wednesday -- and said that the state "has no strategy for higher education."
"For most of our political leaders, higher education is way down on their list of priorities for the state. Higher education is an after thought, and for some, a necessary evil. Instead of investing in higher education as a motor of economic development, or understanding that high quality higher education will create future generations of intellectual workers that are necessary for the 21st century, we are nickel-dimed every year," said Annunziato. "Connecticut is willing to spend billions, yes billions, for its flag ship university, while Rhode Island keeps URI under-fed and mal-nourished."
Focusing on the new structure of the state's approach to overseeing higher education, Annunziato was similarly critical -- and like Sasse, questioned the need for a Higher Education Commissioner at all.
"The state governance structure for higher education, as most educators are keenly aware, is unworkable. The creation of a 1-16 Board of Education will be a nightmare for higher education because the needs of K-12 education will overwhelm the colleges and university agenda. We at the URI/AAUP have always supported separate Boards of Trustees for each RI public college and university. Each institution should report to its own Board. No commissioner of higher education is really necessary."
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