Economic summit: Montana criticized for way it views two-year colleges

Montana needs to stop viewing two-year colleges as second class citizens and do a better job of using its skilled workforce to lure companies, Butte leaders said Tuesday.

By Barbara LaBoe of The Montana Standard

http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2004/06/30/newsbutte/hjjfjdgjiiichh.txt

As part of a statewide tour, leaders from the Montana University System and the state are traveling to towns asking how the university system can better help the state’s economic development plans. The project, developed by the Board of Regents, is called Shared Leadership for a Stronger Montana Economy.

No one is suggesting the universities take over economic development, Sheila Stearns, Montana’s commissioner of higher education, told the gathering, but they’re looking for ways to better partner with local, state and business leaders. The sessions are to gather comments and to help prioritize the group’s efforts.

Tuesday’s session at Montana Tech drew almost 40 people, mostly from Tech, local government and business owners.

Repeatedly, audience members said the state’s two-year degree programs, like those at Tech’s College of Technology, don’t receive the support or attention they deserve. Often high school counselors and even parents look down on the two-year programs, yet they’re the ones that often guarantee students good local jobs straight out of college.

In addition, residents worried about the number of four-year degree graduates who leave the state, saying Montana exports far too much of its greatest resource every year.

Dave Gibson, chief business officer for Gov. Judy Martz, said graduates leaving Montana is an issue, but it’s also a testament to the quality of Montana’s colleges and universities. Rather than trying to focus on keeping graduates from leaving, he said, the real challenge is to convince businesses, like Boeing and others, to locates offices or satellite organizations here instead of hiring away local graduates.

The group has developed six areas of interest, though some may eventually be eliminated as priorities are set. They are: Workforce training and education; distance learning; university system-business partnerships; university system-government collaboration; promote and enhance access to higher education; and university system-Montana Promotions (tourist board) partnership.

Other concerns mentioned Tuesday included the increasing cost of higher education with the state shouldering less of the bill and students picking up more. In particular, participants said middle class students, who don’t qualify for need-based scholarships, are feeling the crunch and even forgoing higher education.

The state ranks in the Top 10 in high school graduation rates, but is 25th in the nation in the number of four-year degrees granted, Gibson said, showing there’s a "disconnect" between high school and college graduation.

Evan Barrett, of the Butte Local Development Corp., also said the group needs more members from the private sector. Both the leadership and project teams are too heavy on government and university representatives, Barrett said. Small businesses also need more help with marketing strategies, something that is rarely available in this state and often too expensive when it is offered, Barrett said.

The comments from the Butte meeting and others, a session also was held in Dillon Tuesday, will be used to prioritize the group’s efforts in the fall. The hope is to be able to present concrete plans to the Legislature for support and funding during the next session.

Reporter Barbara LaBoe may be reached via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at 496-5519.