The State of Higher Education

INDIANAPOLIS – At the state’s first State of Higher Education address, Higher Education Commissioner Teresa Lubbers said she wanted Indiana collegiate students to leave with at least one message in tow: 15 to finish.

The catchphrase, meant to remind students that taking at least 15 credit hours a semester is vital to graduating on time, wasn’t the only pointer Lubbers had for current and future students, but she said it was the most important.

“If Indiana college students listening remember only one thing I’ve said this evening, it should be the following phrase: 15 to finish,” Lubbers said halfway through her 30-minute address.

Lubbers’ State of Higher Education address was the first of its kind in Indiana and was at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Indiana Government Center in downtown Indianapolis. The
Commissioner said such an address was only necessary next to the annual State of the State address from the Governor and State of Education address from the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“The timing of my remarks this evening is altogether fitting as higher education has become the common link between the aspirations of our young people and the economic prosperity of our state,” she said.

She continued, emphasizing the important role students, educators, administrators and legislatures have in shaping higher education in Indiana.

Two main statistics fueled Lubbers’ address — Indiana ranks 40th among the 50 states in the number of adults with education beyond high school and 41st in per capita personal income. Indiana’s Big Goal, according to a press release, is to increase the number of Hoosiers with higher education to 60 percent of the state’s population by 2025.

The Commissioner outlined specific ways she and her commission plan to accomplish it.

“It is not an overstatement to say that Indiana’s future — the kind of state we will be — has more to do with education than anything else,” Lubbers’ said in the beginning of her address.

Speaking directly to her 300-person audience, Lubbers gave instructions and
suggestions to her three main demographic groups: students, legislatures and the academic institutions themselves.

Beyond the 15 to finish catchphrase, Lubbers encouraged students to limit their loans to no more than their expected annual starting salary after graduation.

She challenged the Indiana General Assembly in the upcoming legislative session to support performance-based funding for colleges, stop cutting higher education funding and create financial aid incentive that rewards students for performing academically and graduating on time.

To the collegiate institutions, the commission recommends a limitation of increases in tuition and fees at or below the rate of inflation, while also promoting college advising and financial aid policies to minimize outgoing student debt.

At the address, the Commission on Higher Education released their new “Return on Investments” report. According to the report, three in 10 Hoosier students complete a four-year degree on time and less than one in 10 earns a two-year degree on time, which the report said could cost an Indiana student $50,000 or more in extra tuition, lost wages and related expenses.

Following Lubbers’ address, a panel of four took the stage to discuss education through a broader lens, explaining its importance to business, the community and Indiana’s youth. Amos Brown, host and managing editor of Afternoons with Amos on WTLC-AM, moderated the discussion.

The panelists were Indiana Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Brinegar, Indiana Youth Institute President Bill Stanczykiewicz, University of Indianapolis President Emeritus Beverley Pitts and House Education Committee Chairman Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis.

In an effort to engage students in the Commissioner’s first State of Higher Education address, culinary students from Vincennes University were invited to prepare reception food and a quartet of students from IU’s Jacobs School of Music provided background music. Additionally, three Ball State University communication students live-tweeted the address.

Katie Mettler