Part of my job as a legislator is to look beyond today and help the state prepare for the future. Higher education and workforce development must be at the forefront of these discussions.
Often our thinking about the future is blurred by the crisis of today, but as current events change our present, the future needs must be brought quickly back into focus. Changing demographics, 9/11, natural disasters and the recession all have affected our lives. Drastic swings in political partisanship and a shortage of civility in the political arena have made focusing on our state and country's needs more difficult. As we attempt to adjust to the "new normal" of our post-recession economy, we must acknowledge the effects of these changes on our future.
Many areas need our attention, but historically, Minnesota has succeeded because of a strong, accessible education system, a top-quality workforce and the stoic determination of its citizens. These strengths have allowed us to bounce back from the recession more quickly than other states, despite the deeper effect it had on us. We are focused on creating the "world's best workforce," working hand-in-hand with our partners in K-12 schools, higher education and business.
The "new normal" has meant that the Legislature has insisted that higher education rein in spending. It will take time and a nationwide effort to alter the mindset of the need for growing numbers of — and high salaries for — coaches and administrators being necessary "to compete" in the public service sector.
Last year, the Legislature required the University of Minnesota to investigate its own practices and begin to address those issues. At the same time, the Legislature allocated funds that must be used primarily to freeze student tuition. It's a good start toward getting greater value for working families' tuition dollars.
Locally, you may have heard of various efforts to address the needs in our workforce through K-12 and higher education partnerships with business, giving our young people meaningful, hands-on experience in their fields of study. This concept is gaining steam in southern Minnesota and at the Capitol. Internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training and creating a sense of shared responsibility for the education of the next generation of workers might traditionally have been in the vo-tech and community college arena, but there is also opportunity for these learning environments in our four-year institutions. If done properly, these programs will help us meet the needs of the marketplace, as well as ensure we have dedicated employees with well-paying full-time jobs.
Another concern — perhaps the biggest concern, as those of you with kids in college can attest — is debt. The average debt load for those going through a four-year degree program today in Minnesota is more than $31,000. In 2012, some 70 percent of Minnesota four-year college students had at least some debt when they graduated. To complete a professional degree — dentistry, for example — the debt total can average more than $220,000.
Many of our recent graduates are facing a job market that has adjusted to the "new normal," but the debt these students carry does not yet reflect the realities of our current economy. A recent conversation with a stressed local graduate showcased the problem — she works full-time, making about $13 per hour (with no health-care benefits). She has more than $45,000 in student loans, owing about $540 per month for the next 15 years. I worry that we have placed an entire generation of students in a "no-win" cycle that they will never escape.
Many young people have listened when we've said, "Go to college!" But it's naive to expect entrepreneurship or innovation from young graduates when they are immediately shackled with this kind of debt upon graduation.
As we look toward the future of these new graduates, we must ask ourselves: What can we do to assist the students caught in the "new normal"? Can society and businesses help with tuition and/or loan repayments? Can we help institutions put more value in the degrees that students are receiving? Can we do more to provide full employment?
I'm committed to looking into how we might address the issue of providing a quality K-12 school system and creating the world's best workforce in Minnesota. I will work with my colleagues to find solutions to college debt for future generations. I'm open to new ideas, creative solutions and using technology appropriately to help us with our future educational and workforce challenges. I'll continue to urge folks to transcend partisan rhetoric and seek solutions that will improve the lives of all Minnesotans for today and into the future.
Lots of exciting things are happening in our schools, from preschool through higher education. Let's continue to support our schools, our kids and our futures by keeping Minnesota THE place to be!
Link to editorial in Rochester Post Bulletin (1/17/14): http://www.postbulletin.com/opinion/rep-kim-norton-soaring-college-debt-shackles-graduates-talent-and/article_75b1c711-9647-5049-a876-83f5caf13392.html