Our nation goes to college because...

the world is complex, interconnected, and more reliant on knowledge than ever before. College has become a virtual necessity for individuals to build satisfying lives and careers. In a world of turbulent changes, every kind of occupation has seen a dramatic increase in education requirements. The majority of jobs considered desirable are now held by people with at least some college, and jobs for the best educated workers are growing the fastest.²⁷ The most attractive jobs and careers in the near future will require higher levels of education than in the past. Moreover, the explosion of readily available information means that being able to find out what one needs to know has begun to replace knowledge itself as an educated person's hallmark. Revolutionary technologies have transformed information and life. Changes succeed one another with increasing rapidity, so the need for people who can make sense of change is bound to continue.

Preparation for a fulfilling life, as well as a rewarding career, comprehends learning about the world, culture, and the arts. College education offers an understanding of the past, concepts for grappling with fundamental human and scientific questions, and tools to continue learning throughout life. It provides choices and a measure of control for negotiating a fluid and often stressful world. All these professional and personal benefits of college define it as an individual or private good.

College education also has important benefits for society. One public good is certainly economic. At this moment, even with more students in college, there is a looming shortage of exactly the employees needed by the knowledge-based economy: college educated people with mental agility and adaptability. Employers view the production of creative and intellectually skilled workers as essential for the country's prosperity in a competitive world. Producing this highly educated workforce depends on more students completing rigorous high school and college-level study.

The contribution of college education to a civic society is another public good. A democracy's success flows directly from the thoughtful participation of an informed citizenry. When people are well educated, they tend to participate more in their communities and to vote.²⁸ They acquire the tools and background to stay abreast of complex social issues. Knowledgeable, empathetic members of society help ensure enlightened policy decisions. The tragic events of September 11, 2001, renewed interest in education's responsibility to produce ethical and compassionate graduates, courageous enough to act on their convictions and reflective in shaping society's larger values.

September 11 also jolted Americans into recognizing the interdependence of the globe and the impossibility of any country to exist in isolation. Telecommunications, the ease of travel, and nuclear power, to name just a few developments, make everyone a global citizen. The largest multinational companies are like corporate states, with economies surpassing those of many countries and with worldwide power to match. Resolving issues affecting all of humankind„issues such as environmental pollution and pandemics„requires international cooperation. Of course, such collective action depends on individuals educated about the issues, but it also relies on skilled cross-cultural communicators and negotiators. As problems grow in scale and impact, so does the need for sophisticated cultural understanding. So, too, does U.S. responsibility for contributing its share of bi- or multi-linguists to global conversations. Preparing this globally competent populace is another public good of college.

These myriad private and public benefits of higher learning form the basis for a strong democracy, a healthy society, and, ultimately, a more peaceful world. They explain why, both for individual and societal reasons, everybody should have access to an excellent college education.

 

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