Public Higher Education
Nov 26 2024Election season is over. Regardless of your political affiliation or whether you feel that you have “won” or “lost”, I think we can all agree that one thing is clear: the most recent election has shown us that we are as divided now as we have ever been.
Relatedly, this is also a time of deep distrust in government and public institutions and a profoundly negative sentiment towards the U.S. political system. This lack of confidence has led to significant consequences, including challenges in health policy, the spread of misinformation, and, even, at times, an outright rejection of scientific findings.
Recent data highlights the breadth of the problem. A September 2023 study by Pew Research Center found that trust in the federal government is at a historic low, with only 16% trusting it to do what is right most of the time, and 63% expressing little to no confidence in the system's future. Public opinion of elected officials is similarly bleak, with 65% viewing them as self-serving and 62% as ineffective. Congress fares poorly in public perception, with 72% holding an unfavorable opinion and just 26% expressing approval.
Unfortunately, higher education fares no better. A July 2024 Gallup poll found an “increasing proportion of U.S. adults say they have little or no confidence in higher education. As a result, Americans are now nearly equally divided among those who have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence (36%), some confidence (32%), or little or no confidence (32%) in higher education. When Gallup first measured confidence in higher education in 2015, 57% had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence and 10% had little or none.” (https://news.gallup.com/poll/646880/confidence-higher-education-closely-divided.aspx)
I believe that this distrust in higher education is due, in great part, to politics. Unfortunately, we have gotten caught in the crosshairs of the culture war. Conservative leaders have cast colleges and universities as elitist strongholds of liberal values and accused us of being hostile to more conservative points of view and out of touch with mainstream American values. While I cannot refute these claims outright, I want to point out that public institutions of higher education are some of the most democratic institutions in America. By actively recruiting and supporting students from varied racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, public colleges and universities not only reflect the pluralism of our society but also uphold democratic ideals of equal opportunity and social mobility.
Furthermore, despite the negative perceptions, data consistently show that higher education yields significant benefits for those who complete it. A June 2023 analysis by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) indicates that approximately 93% of students, particularly those attending public institutions, experience financial benefits from earning a degree compared to peers without postsecondary education. The report suggests policy changes, such as doubling the federal Pell Grant and implementing first-dollar free college programs, to enhance educational equity and affordability, would allow even more “mainstream” Americans to attend college.
President-elect Trump has positioned himself as a vocal critic of our higher education system, proposing a sweeping set of changes designed to counter perceived leftist ideologies in academia. His proposals include creating an “American Academy” to rival traditional colleges by offering free, online bachelor’s degrees, funded by taxing and suing large university endowments. He has also vowed to overhaul the accreditation process, removing what he calls “radical left accreditors” and implementing standards that promote “American tradition” and “western civilization.” Which is shorthand for removing any protections for diversity, equity, and inclusion. The higher-education accreditation system ensures that institutions are fiscally sound and offer a quality education. Experts emphasize its non-political, mission-driven nature, making any intention to politicize it alarming.
He has also pledged to “deport pro-Hamas radicals” to make college campuses “safe and patriotic” and announced plans to dismantle the Education Department, which oversees the federal student financial aid programs, among other important things. These initiatives aim to fundamentally alter the landscape of higher education, diminishing its reliance on federal oversight and expanding ideological control to the private sector. To address the situation, higher education institutions must learn to better communicate their value and demonstrate tangible results while adapting to changing societal expectations.
At College of the Redwoods, we believe that a democracy cannot survive without education. Education is the lifeblood of a democratic society, supplying people with the tools they need to think critically, to question, and to engage with the world around them. Democracy is more than just the act of voting; it’s a commitment to the shared ideals of equality, justice, and representation. Education sustains these values by fostering informed citizens who can participate fully in democratic processes.
We also understand that to uphold these ideals, we must actively combat forces that threaten to tear us apart. Misogyny, racism, xenophobia, and all forms of prejudice are poisons that weaken the very foundation of democracy by silencing voices and sowing division. We are committed to fighting these injustices within our institution and beyond. Through dialogue, education, and advocacy, we strive to foster a community where everyone is respected, where differences are celebrated, and where the dignity of each person is upheld.