"More than teaching "More than teaching students: Building places students: Building places where all of us can grow"where all of us can grow"

Tony ChambersTony ChambersUniversity of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

Fall Institute for Academic Deans and Department ChairsNational Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition

Background…Background…Foreground…Foreground…

AdministratorAdministrator – Student – Student affairs/Academic Affairsaffairs/Academic Affairs

FacultyFaculty – Student Development – Student Development PhilanthropistPhilanthropist – Leadership & – Leadership &

Spiritual DevelopmentSpiritual Development Faculty/National Project LeaderFaculty/National Project Leader – –

Higher Education/Kellogg ForumHigher Education/Kellogg Forum FacultyFaculty – Faith and American Public – Faith and American Public

LifeLife

…….and the central guiding .and the central guiding concernsconcerns

How to build organizations that How to build organizations that SustainSustain the the LivesLives that that ServeServe in those in those organizations, and…organizations, and…

How to build organizations that How to build organizations that ServeServe to to SustainSustain and and Improve LivesImprove Lives beyond those organizations.beyond those organizations.

Attempted focus of my Attempted focus of my remarks and our remarks and our

discussion…discussion… The conditions that influence The conditions that influence

institutions, students, faculty and institutions, students, faculty and staff as we try to build life sustaining staff as we try to build life sustaining education environments & education environments & socially/civically committed learning socially/civically committed learning environments.environments.

Ideas for building life sustaining Ideas for building life sustaining learning environments.learning environments.

StudentsStudents

Who are they?Who are they? What do they bring with them to What do they bring with them to

colleges and universities (…that we colleges and universities (…that we should know about)?should know about)?

What implications are there for What implications are there for institutions, learning and society?institutions, learning and society?

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EastWestNorth

Baby Boomer Parents and their Baby Boomer Parents and their Millennial ChildrenMillennial Children

Characteristics of Baby Boomer Parents Characteristics of Baby Boomer Parents (born 1943 – 1960):(born 1943 – 1960):

Intense involvement in their Intense involvement in their children’s lives – “trophy children’s lives – “trophy kids”kids”

Want their kids to have the Want their kids to have the perfect college experienceperfect college experience

Want college rules to Want college rules to protect, not punish, their protect, not punish, their childrenchildren

Have a consumer mentality Have a consumer mentality vs. college student vs. college student development perspectivedevelopment perspective

Want a guarantee of safety, Want a guarantee of safety, and action NOW on problems and action NOW on problems or issuesor issues

Initiated a new kind of Initiated a new kind of parentingparenting

Boomer parents want to Boomer parents want to share their experiences with share their experiences with others – support networksothers – support networks

Characteristics of MillennialsCharacteristics of Millennials (born 1982-2003):(born 1982-2003):

Special/shelteredSpecial/sheltered Confident/optimistic/Confident/optimistic/

cooperativecooperative Team players/value group over Team players/value group over

individualindividual Pressured to achieve/over-Pressured to achieve/over-

scheduledscheduled Deferential to and accept Deferential to and accept

authorityauthority Technology/media savvyTechnology/media savvy Racially/ethnically diverseRacially/ethnically diverse Prefer coaching over Prefer coaching over

counseling counseling Lack self-reflection (don’t self-Lack self-reflection (don’t self-

reflect; they “do”)reflect; they “do”) Value accomplishment over Value accomplishment over

charactercharacter Volunteers vs. political Volunteers vs. political

activistsactivists

Who are our students Who are our students (undergraduates)?(undergraduates)?

General characteristics……General characteristics…… Average age – 27 years oldAverage age – 27 years old Mostly part –timeMostly part –time Mostly womenMostly women Over 1/3 students of colorOver 1/3 students of color Most work more than 20 hours per Most work more than 20 hours per

weekweek 1/2 in Community Colleges1/2 in Community Colleges

The general life conditions that help shape The general life conditions that help shape the valuesthe values of theof the current generation of current generation of

college studentscollege students(Information Age Generation (IAGs) or Millennium (Information Age Generation (IAGs) or Millennium

Generation)Generation)

The Information RevolutionThe Information Revolution Pop CulturePop Culture The Global VillageThe Global Village Redefining FamilyRedefining Family Recession Spending and Global EconomicsRecession Spending and Global Economics The Party’s OverThe Party’s Over Television Wars, Wars on Television, and Wars in Television Wars, Wars on Television, and Wars in

RealityReality The Nuclear Threat and Global PoliticsThe Nuclear Threat and Global Politics Risky Love and PharmaceuticalsRisky Love and Pharmaceuticals Experiencing the Weight of LifeExperiencing the Weight of Life Head of the ClassHead of the Class The Church FilesThe Church Files

Higher Education Higher Education Institutions… Institutions…

Public PerceptionsPublic Perceptions Public SupportPublic Support Public PolicyPublic Policy

Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement… "one of the main goals of higher education is to teach students how to be

active citizens".(% saying…)

Don't know/ Refused

2%

Somewhat disagree

17%

Somewhat agree45%

Strongly disagree

9%

Strongly agree27%

Three-quarters (76%) of females agree that one of the main goals of higher education is to teach

students how to be active citizens, as opposed to two-

thirds (66%) of males

Eight-in-ten (80%) respondents living in non-metro areas agree that active citizenship is a main objective, in contrast to seven-in-ten (69%) respondents living

in the metro area

Active Citizenship as a Goal of Active Citizenship as a Goal of Higher EducationHigher Education

Females now overtaking males as the main gender group

enrolling in post secondary education

The Goals of Higher Education(% saying…)

56%

67%

69%

69%

72%

85%

Preparing people for effectiveparticipation & leadership

Preparing people to function in a morediverse society

Creating a better quality of life in yourstate

Preparing people to function in a morediverse workforce

Career training or re-training

Providing education in basic skills

The Purpose of Higher EducationThe Purpose of Higher Education

Source: Ford FoundationSource: Ford Foundation

What should a student gain from college?(% saying "absolutely essential"…)

71%

68%

63%

61%

60%

57%

44%

32%Exposure to great writers &

thinkers in subjects likeliterature & history

Responsibilities ofcitizenship, such as voting &

volunteering

Top notch writing &speaking skills

Specific expertise &knowledge in careers they

have chosen

Learning hi-tech skills, suchas using computers & the

Internet

An improved ability to solveproblems & think

analytically

An ability to get along withpeople different from

themselves

A sense of maturity & howto manage on their own

The College ExperienceThe College Experience

Source: The National Center for Public Policy & Higher EducationSource: The National Center for Public Policy & Higher Education

I'm going to read you some issues colleges & universities face today. Please tell me how good a job you think higher

education is doing on that issue…(% saying…)

7%

15%

41%

40%

48%

6%Preparing

students to beactive citizens

Building arelationship with

surroundingcommunities

Preparingstudents for a

career62%

47%

47%

African American respondents (18%) are more than twice as

likely as Caucasian respondents (7%) to say that colleges &

universities are doing a poor job on preparing students for a

career.

African American respondents (22%) are more than twice as

likely as Caucasian respondents (10%) to say that colleges &

universities are doing a poor job on building a relationship with

the surrounding community

Current Job Performance Ratings Current Job Performance Ratings of Colleges & Universitiesof Colleges & Universities

The Personal Benefits of Higher EducationThe Personal Benefits of Higher Education

Better jobs & career opportunities

Higher salaries

Better benefits

Discretionary income for social activities

More life choices & opportunities

Meet new people, networking for career

& non-career purposes

Sense of fulfillment & pride of accomplishment

Broadens the mind

EconomicEconomic

SocialSocial

“Higher education gives people the opportunity for potential. My

daughter is going to finish her MBA soon, yet she is already

being paid by an employer just for her potential. She’s being paid so well that she recently

bought her first home”

“College is the first time you get to be alone in the world. Now

you have to take responsibilities for your own actions & how you affect other people. This is what

I call maturity”

The Community Benefits of Higher EducationThe Community Benefits of Higher Education

EconomicEconomic

SocialSocial

“Colleges & universities bring business to a town. If the

college or university weren’t there, it would be just a desolate

place.”

• More consumers for local businesses

• Brings qualified job pool to area

• Brings new businesses & jobs to area

• Exposure to more cultural events

• Unites community around sports teams

& accomplishments

• Access to medical trials

& public health programs

“Colleges & universities allow you to make mistakes in a safe

environment. When you stay for that extra slice of pizza & drink instead of going home to finish

up those last few pages of math.”

The Societal Benefits of Higher EducationThe Societal Benefits of Higher Education

• Creation & sustaining of businesses

• More revenue from taxes

• Greater consumer spending

• New technology

• Encourages appreciation for diversity

Cultural & sporting events

Innovative medical research

Generates new ideas & open thought

Historical leaders of our country

EconomicEconomic

SocialSocial

“The more people there are employed, the less we will spend on social programs, because it strengthens the

local economy”

“Higher Education is not just for knowledge, but to embrace ideas outside of the box. Most

kids look mature on the outside, but are in fact very

immature on the inside”

Societal Economic ContributionSocietal Economic Contribution

Which of the following ways would you say is the most important way that the public

colleges & universities in this state contribute to the state’s economy?

(% saying…)

Providing jobs for people in

the state41%

Attracting businesses to the state

23%

Don't know/ Refused

6%

Bringing people &

money to the state30%

Disproportionately over 50, not college grads, & lower income

Disproportionately male, with advanced degrees; also disproportionately African American

Disproportionately younger, more educated, more affluent

Source: The American Council on EducationSource: The American Council on Education

Please tell me how important good public colleges & universities are to each of the following things…

(% saying…)

67%

70%

71%

76%

19%

18%

16%

16%

17%

16%

15%

16%

15%

14%

65%

64%

63%

61%

61%

57%

54%Attracting people to the state

Creating a sense of state pride

Keeping young people in the state

Bringing money into the state

Good quality of life

Attracting businesses & employers

Keeping the state's economy strong

Creating jobs

Enhance research & technology

Technologically competitive

Well-trained workforce in state

Fairly important Very important

89%

73%

75%

77%

77%

80%

80%

80%

83%

85%

85%

Contributions to the StateContributions to the State

Source: The American Council on EducationSource: The American Council on Education

Drawbacks to Higher EducationDrawbacks to Higher Education

Increasing tuition costs

Does not guarantee a good, well paying job

Many still lack common sense or basic skills

Too much focus on one area

Over-expansion & gentrification

Land & parking taken away

Poor student behavior towards

neighborhood

Elitist

Limit or narrow field choices

“Universities & colleges are pricing themselves out. My

daughter wants to go to NYU, but that’s going to cost us

$140,000. That’s a no brainer, we can’t afford it, so she’ll have

to go somewhere cheaper.”

“My son doesn’t know how to use a computer & does not know

about costs or savings. Even though he only works a

restaurant job, he should have this knowledge. It’s a benefit.”

63%56%

34%38%

“Public”

Jan. 1998 May 2000 Nov. 2001 Nov. 2001

“Most”

African Americans are African Americans are significantly more likely significantly more likely than others to think that than others to think that

colleges do not try to keep colleges do not try to keep tuition affordabletuition affordable

Those with at least a 4-Those with at least a 4-year college degree are year college degree are

significantly more significantly more confident that colleges try confident that colleges try

to stay affordable than to stay affordable than those who are less-those who are less-

educated.educated.

Do you think _____ colleges try to keep the amount they charge at an affordable level for families like yours, or not?

Percent who say “yes”

In 1998 & 2000, the question read “most colleges.” In 2001, the question was split: “most colleges” N=328; “public colleges” N=372.

Source: The American Council on EducationSource: The American Council on Education

Perception of Tuition CostsPerception of Tuition Costs

FacultyFaculty

Mass retirements in next 5-10 yearsMass retirements in next 5-10 years Half of new hires are part-time, non-Half of new hires are part-time, non-

tenure stream, non-regular facultytenure stream, non-regular faculty Course loads increasingCourse loads increasing Self-funding demands increasingSelf-funding demands increasing Student demands and expectations Student demands and expectations

shiftshift Job decisions depend on more than just Job decisions depend on more than just

the job…the job…

Sources of Faculty Sources of Faculty Stress…Stress…

Based on exploratory, qualitative study by Alexander and Based on exploratory, qualitative study by Alexander and Helen Astin (1998). Helen Astin (1998). A study of purpose and Meaning in A study of purpose and Meaning in Faculty Lives: Stress, Fragmentation, and AuthenticityFaculty Lives: Stress, Fragmentation, and Authenticity

Time pressures - Particularly severe for those faculty Time pressures - Particularly severe for those faculty with spouses and small childrenwith spouses and small children

Students – unpreparedStudents – unprepared Colleagues – peer review and tenure processColleagues – peer review and tenure process Stress related to family responsibilities and tenure Stress related to family responsibilities and tenure

process is particularly acute for women facultyprocess is particularly acute for women faculty Engagement in committee and other administrative Engagement in committee and other administrative

work – takes time away from teaching and scholarship work – takes time away from teaching and scholarship and is seen as unimportant and unnecessaryand is seen as unimportant and unnecessary

And so…And so…

Institutions, Students, and Faculty are Institutions, Students, and Faculty are experiencing shifts in their roles and experiencing shifts in their roles and relationships.relationships.

Stresses and significant changes are causing Stresses and significant changes are causing all of us, and our institutions to examine ways all of us, and our institutions to examine ways in which we can sustain ourselves and grow in in which we can sustain ourselves and grow in this new climate.this new climate.

In order to grow together as learners in In order to grow together as learners in higher education, faculty, staff and students higher education, faculty, staff and students need to adopt values and practices that align need to adopt values and practices that align to sustain and invigorate their very souls.to sustain and invigorate their very souls.

Next…Next… As Deans and Department Chairs, what do you do As Deans and Department Chairs, what do you do

to sustain yourself in your work and lives?to sustain yourself in your work and lives? What do you do to help faculty in your area(s) What do you do to help faculty in your area(s)

sustain themselves in their work and lives?sustain themselves in their work and lives? What do you do to help students in your area(s) What do you do to help students in your area(s)

sustain themselves in their work and lives?sustain themselves in their work and lives? As Deans and Department Chairs, what would you As Deans and Department Chairs, what would you

like to do (that you do not currently do) to like to do (that you do not currently do) to contribute to sustaining and invigorating the work contribute to sustaining and invigorating the work and lives of yourself, your faculty colleagues and and lives of yourself, your faculty colleagues and your students?your students?

What would you change about your institution What would you change about your institution that would contribute to more meaning, purpose that would contribute to more meaning, purpose and joy in the lives and work of faculty, staff and and joy in the lives and work of faculty, staff and students? students?

I am afraid that we will have to admit I am afraid that we will have to admit that the educational process in that the educational process in

America is either a rather pleasant America is either a rather pleasant way of passing the time until we are way of passing the time until we are

ready to go to work or a way of ready to go to work or a way of getting ready for some occupation, or getting ready for some occupation, or

a combination of the two. What is a combination of the two. What is missing is education to be human missing is education to be human

beings, education to make the most beings, education to make the most of our human powers, education for of our human powers, education for our responsibilities as members of a our responsibilities as members of a

democratic society, education for democratic society, education for freedom.freedom.

Robert Robert Maynard HutchinsMaynard Hutchins

““Always in the deep woods when you leave Always in the deep woods when you leave familiar ground and step off into a new familiar ground and step off into a new

place, there will be, along with the feelings place, there will be, along with the feelings of curiosity and excitement, a little nagging of curiosity and excitement, a little nagging

of dread. It is an ancient fear of the of dread. It is an ancient fear of the unknown and it is your first bond with the unknown and it is your first bond with the wilderness you are going into. What you wilderness you are going into. What you

are doing is exploring.”are doing is exploring.”

~Wendell Berry ~Wendell Berry ~~

We shall not cease from explorationAnd the end of all our exploringWill be to arrive where we startedAnd know the place for the first time.

~T.S. Elliot ~

FOR MORE FOR MORE INFORMATION:INFORMATION:

Tony ChambersTony Chambers

University of Michigan University of Michigan

734-647-0912734-647-0912

tchrist@umich.edutchrist@umich.edu