UA president speaks at La Posada

“Education is becoming a national emergency and we don’t need any more emergencies. The American education system — once the envy of the world — is slipping. Education in America; it’s a quiet crisis,” said University of Arizona President Robert N. Shelton on Friday to what he referred to as “the most educated audience he’s ever spoken to.”

With these attention-getting statements at La Posada’s first forum of the season, Shelton quickly had the full attention of this learned group.

Invited by resident Dr. Harold Margulies via e-mail, Shelton accepted the invitation and spoke about education as making a commitment to society.

Of his own upbringing in a family where education was highly valued, he said, “Education brought a sense of aspiration and obligation — more than I ever imagined.”

Citing worldwide statistics, he said America ranks 21st worldwide for completing high school and 15th for completing four-years of college. Calling Arizona statistics even more dismal, Shelton said, “Arizona is 46th nationally in college graduation. This is not what anybody wants.”

Then there is the bright side.

He spoke about UA just having welcomed the best and brightest freshman class and the university being No. 1 in the state for first-year retention.

When it’s time for lunch, he heads over to the student union building, where he’ll grab a sandwich, a wrap or a slice of pizza and sit with a few students to find out what’s going on.

“These students are so engaged. They’re American, international, Asian, Black, Indian.”

He cited upbeat statistics — more than 60 percent of UA undergraduates are involved in hands-on research. “They’re learning their profession by doing; they’re doing more than classroom learning.”

Praising UA for all it offers and its standing with top colleges and universities in the nation, Shelton said UA rates among the top-four for federal funding in physical science.

In top company with Cal Tech, Johns Hopkins and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he said, “This year, Cal Tech beat us by $60,000, but this is the company we’re in.”

He spoke of colleges and universities being dependent on K-12 students, of the need for better funding for public schools so children can come to college better prepared and of society gaining more from an educated citizenry.

“Students have to have aspirations. Getting our young people into education — it’s so important,” he emphasized.

With tuition as the primary reason many don’t consider going to college, Shelton spoke of UA’s bold new initiative the “Arizona Assurance Program” that guarantees financial need will not be a barrier to higher education for qualified students.

Many in the program are first-generation college students who need extra help that will make a lifetime of difference. An essential component is faculty mentorship.

“Six hundred students are now in the program. They will graduate debt-free. People understand ‘zero,’” Shelton said.

Lauding UA’s excellence, he spoke of what the university does better than anyone — hydrology, creative writing, the School of Pharmacy, astronomy, the dance program and tele-medicine.

“I’m dedicated to students getting an education that is relevant to their lives; that’s what I’m dedicated to,” Shelton said. “We are an education powerhouse. I am so proud of our University of Arizona. The students really impress me. They’re good people with energy and a good work ethic.”

Though it’s still a struggle to keep faculty because salaries are not up to the median, Shelton closed by saying UA has the best faculty per dollar of any university in the country.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.