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Collaboration Across Educational Systems:
The challenge and opportunity
Michael MeottiCommissioner, Department of Higher EducationApril 28, 2009
The Societal Value of Educational Attainment
• Studies document a wide variety of positive societal outcomes associated with a higher level of education within a community
• The education level drives the economic future of a region or state– Differences in educational attainment level and patents explain
variations in average income across the fifty states (FRB of Cleveland)
– Each 1% change in educational attainment relates to a 2.3% difference in the economy of a metro region (FRB of New York)
A Closer Look at the Economic Impact
• The result of an increase of 1% in the education level:– Connecticut: $5 billion more economic activity each year
• Fairfield County: $ 1.8 billion• Greater Hartford: $1.6 billion• Greater New Haven: $800 million• Southeastern CT: $300 million
• Is there any other economic development strategy that can come close to this level of impact?
The Risk of Falling Behind
• Connecticut has a history of leading the nation in the share of the population with a BA degree
• Our education level has been growing but our competitive posture has slipped– 1st in 1990 – 27.2%– 4th in 2000– 31.4%
• “New England 2020” report projects that status quo will lead to an actual decline in education level, not just a competitive weakening
Where is the Opportunity to Turn this around?
• First year college students who have graduated from high school but are not ready for college-level academic work– 80% of community college students test as needing remediation
in either math or English– 50+% of CSU students test into either remedial or developmental
math• National studies show that these students are not likely to graduate• CSU six year graduation rate: 43%• Community colleges three year graduation rate: 10%• College access is not enough, college success is the goal
We Share this Challenge
• “Your students were our students just months ago”– Almost 60% of college-bound CT high school seniors will enroll in
a CT college (public or private)
– About two-thirds of these students enroll at a CSU campus or community college
• “Our students will be your teachers”• Working together increases the chance for success– Success stories emerging around the country and in CT
The Partnership Opportunity
• Some school districts send a high percentage of their college bound graduates to one college– 60% of Bridgeport’s college-bound students enroll at Housatonic Community
College• Some colleges receive a high percentage of their first year
class from a group of nearby towns– 1/3 of WCSU students come from 4 towns– 1/3 of SCSU students come from 8 towns– 1/3 of CCSU students come from 12 towns
• Some regions include a group of colleges and high schools that form a natural platform for partnership– The 5 community colleges in central Connecticut draw half of their full time students
from 10 towns