Board of Governors Stakeholder Session
October 19, 2005
The session began with a presentation of demographic trends in Southeast Michigan from Kurt Metzger, formerly of the Wayne State Center for Urban Studies. Following the presentation, the Board identified several key trends that may impact the university in the next five years. A summary of these trends are listed below:
- Shifts in population and job growth in Southeast Michigan.
- Changing structure of the Michigan economy and decline of auto-based economy.
- Continual decreases in state funding and turnover in state legislators, particularly in out-state Michigan.
- Decline in the number of high school graduates by 2015.
- Addressing public policy issues such as urban sprawl, regionalization, transportation issues, and the area’s business climate.
- Increased recognition of the importance of education in today’s changing economy.
- Competition from other universities and private colleges.
- Transition from manufacturing economy to service economy.
- Increasing significance of race and isolation as population moves away from the urban core.
- Migration of specific ethnic groups to Southeast Michigan, particularly highly educated individuals.
- WSU’s role as the key research institution in Metropolitan Detroit.
- Forming partnerships with community colleges.
- Implications of rising healthcare costs on family budgets.
- Addressing the issue of poorly prepared students.
- Educating parents on the value of higher education.
- Privatization of higher education.
- Improving communication between K-12 schools and universities.
- Assess the needs and capacity of on-campus housing.
- Continuing growth in residential life on WSU campus and the positive effect it has had on the campus community.
- Increasing cost of tuition against the backdrop of Michigan’s lagging economy.
- Development of programs to shorten time to degree modeled on MedStart and other dual enrollment programs.
- Expand distance learning opportunities.
- WSU’s role in regional transportation and the lack of public transportation alternatives for commuting students, faculty and staff.
- Aging population and incoming migrant population.
- Change the role of the State Board of Education to enhance coordination among Michigan’s institutions of higher education to avoid duplication of programs and services.
In addition, the Board examined threats and opportunities emerging from these trends:
- Responding to the growth of Macomb County and the likelihood that other universities and/or colleges will attempt to tap into that growing market.
- Impact of university tuition increases on middle-class students.
- Increase marketing of WSU to areas outside of Metropolitan Detroit.
- Capitalize on the aging population and attract older learners to campus for specialized programs.
- Racial isolation as a result of migration from urban core.
- Innovative use of technology through distance learning and video conferencing.
- Identify and develop niche academic programs to attract new students.
- Growing need for a statewide higher education commission to provide better coordination among Michigan’s universities and colleges.
Finally, the Board concluded by discussing potential responses to identified threats and opportunities:
- Expand distance learning.
- Explore ways to shorten the time it takes to earn a degree.
- Examine transportation alternatives for commuting students and staff.
- Enhance satellite centers.
- Given the important partnership between Detroit and the university, ensure that WSU plays a role in the city’s strategic planning efforts.
- Reach out to form partnerships with other schools and create collaborative programs.