Universities must transform to meet fiscal challenges

MADISON—A leading higher education expert and former UW chancellor says colleges and universities must plan proactively to transform their institutions in response to challenging economic times.

Alan E. Guskin, former chancellor at UW-Parkside and president emeritus at Antioch University, spoke to the UW System Board of Regents during its February meeting. He is co-director and senior scholar for the Project on the Future of Higher Education.

Guskin said sharp cutbacks in state funding for public higher education in Wisconsin and nationally must be considered a long-term problem requiring long-term solutions.

"The reality of life is not whether we will be successful—the reality is whether we will continue to be successful," Guskin said during his presentation, titled "Dealing with the Future Now: Principles for Creating a Vital Campus in a Climate of Restricted Resources."

Guskin encouraged UW leaders to create a vision for the future focused on student learning, faculty quality and lower costs for students. He advocated changing how education is delivered and measuring student outcomes as the basis for undergraduate degrees. Finally, he suggested organizational changes that support the vision of the future, which could include zero-based budgeting and more efficient uses of technology.

Several regents praised Guskin's presentation as one of the best they had heard on the future of higher education.

Review Guskin's presentation [PDF]