10 Steps for Success in 2010
Dec 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Mike Kennedy (mkennedy@asumag.com)
While enduring severe financial setbacks, schools and universities must continue to deliver high-quality education to students.
Tax bases eroding. Jobs disappearing. Endowments shrinking. Aid evaporating. That's been the story in 2009 for many schools and universities across the nation. Education institutions have had to cope with the worst economic conditions in generations. Yet the product they provide has never been more critical to a society looking to rebound from financial catastrophe. Even with their resources depleted, schools and universities must press on in their efforts to provide a high-quality education to millions of students.
So when administrators, facility managers and educators envision the path to a successful 2010, they may have to redefine what constitutes a success in such challenging conditions. In a climate of cutbacks, doing more with less may be unattainable, but education institutions should strive to do as much as they can with the resources they do have:
BUDGET MANAGEMENT
For most schools, the question is not whether they have to cut spending, but by how much. The revenue streams for public schools — property taxes and state aid — are flowing more slowly. Public colleges and universities also are suffering from the drop in state funding, as well as the losses from shrinking endowments and fewer donations. Money from the federal stimulus has eased the pain for some institutions, but at this point, the funding has not sparked a recovery as much as it has prevented even more disastrous consequences for education.
Schools and universities have had to scale back their ambitions and try to cut spending in a way that doesn't damage the quality of education. Institutions facing such financial difficulties in 2010 may have to adopt some of the approaches other schools and universities have already taken.
Several states have raised the possibility of consolidating smaller districts in an effort to use resources more efficiently. Some districts have looked at shortening the school day or increasing the average class size to conserve funds. Arizona has cut funding for textbooks and classroom supplies. Michigan State University has proposed eliminating two departments to save money. In Los Angeles and St. Louis, workers are taking unpaid furlough days to ease budget deficits.
One cutback that has not gone over well is cutting instructional time. Hawaii decided to cancel classes on 17 Fridays to save money, but the action drew criticism from many, including U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. State officials soon were working to come up with a plan to restore most of the instructional time.
TECHNOLOGY
If the 2010 theme for budget-conscious schools and universities is to try to do more with less, technology will be a key element to make that possible. In the 1990s, politicians talked about computers and Internet connections as integral elements in building a bridge to the 21
When designed well and used properly, new technologies can provide students with a better learning experience: easier access to more information delivered in more stimulating ways. Many classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards that soup up the age-old concept of the chalkboard with the depth of worldwide resources found on the Internet. Personal response devices, known more commonly as "clickers," enable teachers to solicit immediate answers and feedback on lessons from students.
Technology is second nature to most of today's students, and schools and universities can take advantage by providing materials and instruction using the systems and gadgets familiar to students.
The Pew Internet & American Life Project, in a 2008 survey, estimated that 71 percent of U.S. teenagers had a cell phone. Some schools still restrict student use of cell phones because of the potential for misuse and classroom disruption, but other educators, noting how integral cell phones have become in the life of the typical teenager, are embracing the devices to aid in school work.
In addition to sending and receiving voice and text messages to communicate with teachers and among each other, students can use the many features of the cell phones to take photographs, record sound or, in some cases, conduct Internet searches. Lectures and other class notes can be recorded for students to download onto their iPods and mp3 players.
SUSTAINABILITY
The push to build and operate education facilities more efficiently continues to gain momentum, spurred by concerns about the environment and a desire to spend money in a way that benefits schools most effectively in the long term. The pursuit of sustainable, high-performance schools can influence numerous decisions involving facilities and operations.
Many state and local governments have adopted design standards for new facilities that call for the use of sustainable strategies. Education institutions that seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for their buildings or follow the best practices put forth by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools are able to produce facilities that use less energy and less water, and provide spaces that are more suitable for learning.
Higher-education institutions that are seeking ways to become more sensitive to how their campuses interact with the environment and the threats of global warming can join the more than 660 institutions that have signed The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. Those schools have a goal of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions they produce and, in the long term, achieving climate neutrality.
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