An Alternative View to the NC Community College Merger Proposal Issue
Jay Schalin is the senior writer for the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy — a nonprofit organization promoting excellence in higher education. He recently wrote a commentary for Raleigh’s News and Observer countering the arguments made by North Carolina's community college leaders against a recent and ongoing merger proposal. Community college leaders argue that merging the administrative jobs from smaller community colleges to nearby larger ones would destroy the fabric of rural communities. But Schalin disagrees. In an interview with VisionPoint Marketing he explains why and offers a counter argument to our earlier blog on this same issue.
Tell us about your organization and its mission?
Our primary goal is promoting excellence in higher education and also looking at cost efficiency in education both nationally and through the state of North Carolina. The education system in America is broken and we entered a new era through the debt crisis. Traditionally it was assumed throwing money at higher education would produce better citizens and a better society. But this is no longer true. Our organization speaks out against policies with diminishing marginal returns. We want genuine progress. We are also a watchdog of education issues which means commenting on inefficiencies and promoting smart policy.
Why do you approve the merger proposal for the North Carolina community colleges?
The merger proposal is a cost effective way for legislation to improve academia by taking from administration and applying to academics. This is a strong sell. Nothing would be removed other than some administrative jobs and in doing so community colleges would have the same names, the same professors, programs and students. Other than the few people losing their jobs, I don't think anybody will notice.
But you see a lot is at stake with this proposal?
I do. The larger problem is that experts have long questioned the quality of education being offered by smaller, rural community colleges. We have no stats, but anecdotally we hear graduates from rural community colleges transferring over to larger universities often feel overwhelmed. If used properly the money saved from this proposal would improve the quality of education being offered. Essentially, this proposal asks us all an important question: Do you become less of what you've always been, or do you find new ways to counter the reduced public support? We suggest the latter.
What do you think now the governor had also attacked the plan?
Our governor doesn’t have any power to stop it at this point. Bottom line is the proposal is still alive in the legislature. Should they pass it into law, she can veto it, but the legislature can override her veto. I doubt there will be much public outcry if the merger goes through and the facts are known. The current opposition may be nothing more than a grand uprising of a few people who, naturally, have interest in maintaining their jobs or their power.