Higher Education can no longer be "An Academic Exercise"

True in the 90's as it is today: "Higher education is confronting challenges, like the economy is, about the need for a higher number of more adequately trained, more highly educated citizenry." M. Spellings.

The growing education gap globally - Scary. The 42+ million Americans who started college but could not finish - Shocking. The transition from grant-based aid to loan-based aid in this Nation over the last 20 years - Scandalous. Our continued public discourse as we in higher education throw out-of-touch tantrums about internal processes rather than trying to address the systemic issues of access, affordability, and flexibility for millions who need it – Haughty.

The narrative must change. Education must become a truly bipartisan issue; education must evolve from its inception when it was only for the elite and the well-to-do, to a completive advantage for a knowledgebase economy.

As countries embrace mass higher education, the cost of maintaining universities increases dramatically relative to an elite system. D. Bok

While Unity Environmental University is not yet in a place where we can affect national higher education policy, nor do we have the endowment to transform education from - one of selectivity - to one of opportunity, I can only speak of what we can control – Adapting our governance, operational, curriculum, and pedagogical approaches to support those who do not fit in the traditional model, yet still need a quality environmental science education.

Why is this important to our faculty, staff, trustees, and a preponderance of alums? Well, that’s easy – Imagine a world where only a select few have access to a well-rounded Environmental Science Education; now imagine you were excluded from that opportunity for reasons beyond your control - Unacceptable.

We do not have all the answers, but to attempt to solve these wicked problems, we at Unity are striving to solve for:

1. Accessibility: Environmental issues affect everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Making education affordable ensures that a broader range of individuals can access environmental science programs, including those from underprivileged backgrounds. This inclusivity is essential to ensure that a diverse group of people can contribute to solving environmental problems.
2. Affordability: Ensuring affordability helps reduce disparities in access to environmental education. Without affordability, only those who can afford expensive programs or institutions may receive specialized training in environmental science. This can perpetuate social and economic inequalities in the field, limiting the diversity of perspectives and solutions.
3. Social Mobility: Environmental problems are complex and multifaceted, and they affect different communities in unique ways. An affordable education system attracts students from diverse backgrounds, including those who have experienced environmental issues firsthand. These students can provide valuable perspectives and insights into environmental challenges and solutions.
4. Life-Long Learning: Environmental issues are continuously evolving, with new challenges emerging regularly. Flexibility in education, such as offering online courses or part-time options, allows professionals and individuals already in the workforce to continue their education, supporting career promotion, while balancing other responsibilities. This promotes lifelong learning and helps professionals stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field.
5. Real-World Application: Environmental science education should prepare students for practical problem-solving in the real world. Flexibility in curriculum design can incorporate experiential learning, internships, and fieldwork, enabling students to apply their knowledge and skills in real environmental settings.
6. A Global Perspective: Environmental issues transcend national boundaries. Affordable and flexible education can attract international students and facilitate international collaboration, which is crucial for addressing global environmental challenges.
7. Innovation: Affordability and flexibility can encourage innovation in environmental education. This might include the development of new teaching methods, technologies, or curricular approaches that make education more accessible, engaging, and effective.
8. Career Opportunities: Ensuring affordability and flexibility in environmental science education can lead to a broader range of career opportunities for graduates. It allows students to explore various paths within a multitude of fields, whether in research, advocacy, policy, education, industry, or expanding into new critical new roles that have yet to be developed to help create climate resiliency.

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." MLK jr.

From our corner of the world here at Unity, affordability and flexibility are fundamental aspects of environmental science education that promote accessibility, equity, diversity, adaptability, and practicality in addressing complex environmental challenges does just that. These factors not only benefit individual students but also contribute to the overall effectiveness of environmental science as a discipline in addressing pressing global issues.