The recent threat from State legislatures cutting higher education appropriations and consistently divesting from investments in the education of their constituents is a self-defeating exercise. Very soon our country will be lagging behind most of the developing nations in the number and quality of students trained in the STEM areas that are critical to maintaining a vibrant economy.

The continuing rollbacks and cuts to State funding of higher education across many states is a stark reminder of how much we are yet to demonstrate to the legislators the overall “relevance” of higher education to the economic and social development of the state. It behooves us as educators to “educate” our legislators about the long term benefits of reliable funding for higher education even in the face of economic uncertainties. It is not enough that we get a cursory hearing from those in power to legislate, but it is important for us to explain in the briefest and clearest terms (i.e., the politicians have such small attention span) how the return on investments now will pay off handsomely in the future.  Indeed, we have to show them how their constituents will be indebted to them for their foresight and wisdom!

To a large extent some of the modern day politicians who cal themselves fiscally conservative have also a bias against the intelligentsia. The frequent fights over controversial issues such as stem cell funding,  teaching of evolution, global climate change and many others have hardened these so-called conservatives towards the entire intelligentsia which is often accused of leftward bias. We have to remind these politicians that a university is where all points of view are entertained and debates encouraged. We have to be able to convince them that in a democracy such a frank exchange of views is necessary to keep a liberal democracy in place. Rather than opposing the agenda of these fiscal hawks, one has to prevail upon them and change their perceptions of the modern day university system. The same folks also understand perfectly the importance of economic development which is the easiest way to convince them of supporting higher education.