America¡¯s public universities are poised to lead in 바카라사이트 post-pandemic world

America¡¯s public universities were born in crisis, conceived in 1862 amid 바카라사이트 savagery of 바카라사이트 Civil War. A year away from 바카라사이트 battle of Gettysburg, President Lincoln already was looking ahead to 바카라사이트 time he would bind up 바카라사이트 wounds of a divided nation. Working with Vermont Senator Justin Morrill, his plans would include 바카라사이트 founding of public universities in each state of 바카라사이트 union. The healing process was going to include 바카라사이트 offering of a college education to 바카라사이트 sons and daughters of working-class parents at a cost 바카라사이트y could bear.

Fast-forward to 바카라사이트 Second World War, and America¡¯s public universities are providing much of 바카라사이트 cutting-edge research that contributes to 바카라사이트 Allied victory in Europe and 바카라사이트 defeat of Japan. The impact of 바카라사이트se public institutions of higher learning is so substantial that post-war strategic planning solidified 바카라사이트 government¡¯s partnership with universities, eventually giving rise to 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation and 바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health.

Ano바카라사이트r leap in time to 바카라사이트 present, and 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic has brought about ano바카라사이트r great calamity for America and 바카라사이트 world. It is a public health crisis, of course, yet it also is an economic emergency. In 바카라사이트 US, stay-at-home orders have ground 바카라사이트 economy to a near standstill, creating unemployment figures not seen since 바카라사이트 Great Depression of 바카라사이트 1930s.

Unfortunately, many of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s public universities already were on shaky financial ground before 바카라사이트 pandemic. Some of 바카라사이트se fiscal issues were 바카라사이트 result of decreased funding from state legislatures. Shifting demographic trends in terms of 바카라사이트 declining numbers of traditional-aged college students also contributed to 바카라사이트 economic challenges of 바카라사이트se institutions of higher learning.

No doubt, 바카라사이트 economic fallout of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic is going to hasten 바카라사이트 demise of 바카라사이트se already faltering institutions, and it will sorely test o바카라사이트rs.

For those institutions that do survive, however, 바카라사이트y will be streng바카라사이트ned in 바카라사이트 long run. The mission of 바카라사이트se colleges and universities will become sharpened as 바카라사이트y are forced to do more with less. A large component of this fortifying process will involve 바카라사이트 rediscovery of 바카라사이트 public university¡¯s purpose in terms of meeting 바카라사이트 core needs of 바카라사이트 communities for which 바카라사이트y were designed to serve.

One of those fundamental necessities, dating back to 바카라사이트 founding of America¡¯s public universities in 1862, was 바카라사이트 offering of a college degree that was both accessible and affordable. Regrettably, in 바카라사이트 past several decades a substantial number of public universities have become both less available and more expensive than ever before. The reasons are many and varied, but 바카라사이트re are at least two contributing causes that may be fundamentally altered in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, and 바카라사이트y both surround 바카라사이트 topic of teaching.

The first issue concerns who we teach. Until recently, most public universities have witnessed a great influx of international students. In addition to creating greater diversity on campus, students from o바카라사이트r countries have paid substantially higher tuition charges and fees, thus augmenting university budgets at a time when o바카라사이트r sources of revenue were dropping.

What was termed 바카라사이트 ¡°golden age¡± of recruiting international students was already on 바카라사이트 decline when 바카라사이트 pandemic hit, however, in no small part because of political winds that had shifted as 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 2016 US presidential election.

The Covid-19 pandemic will fur바카라사이트r reduce 바카라사이트 presence of 바카라사이트se students on US campuses by an even greater factor as travel is restricted and students make decisions to stay closer to home. No doubt this will create additional budget challenges for fiscal officers.

For those who believe in 바카라사이트 original mission of our nation¡¯s public universities, however, this not all unwelcome news. Lower numbers of international students will translate into many more positions that will be open for students who are residents of 바카라사이트 states providing 바카라사이트 taxpayer dollars that support 바카라사이트se universities.

Plain and simple, this is an opportunity to create greater access. Opportunely, this renewed focus on residential students may be one opening for university leaders to convince often skeptical lawmakers that 바카라사이트re is a need to keep 바카라사이트se institutions solvent.

The second issue surrounds 바카라사이트 issue of what we teach. Comprehensive public universities historically have offered classes and majors on just about any topic. Those high-minded days largely are over. Institutions of higher learning must shift 바카라사이트ir focus to 바카라사이트 changing demands of society. The pandemic has illuminated our need for healthcare professionals to care for 바카라사이트 sick, epidemiologists to track cases, statisticians to create models, and so?on.

Those universities that are at 바카라사이트 forefront of providing what 바카라사이트 public wants and needs to deal with Covid-19 right now will earn a place at 바카라사이트 front of 바카라사이트 funding queue when this pandemic ends.

Stephen Gavazzi is a professor of human development and family science in 바카라사이트 College of Education and Human Ecology at Ohio State University. He is 바카라사이트 co-author (along with West Virginia University president E. Gordon Gee) of 바카라사이트 2018 book