Andy Lietz: Want better public universities? Then get involved

AT THE RECENT Business and Industry Association annual dinner, I offered observations on ways the business community and the higher education community intersect and could help one another. Since I was not physically removed from the podium, my microphone not turned off, and the audience appeared to respond positively, I want now to share some of these thoughts with a larger audience.

The BIA chose to honor my work that night by giving me their Lifetime Achievement Award. But a Lifetime Achievement Award is really an award given to many people. In my case, the recognition must be shared with all of my business associates over the last 47 years.

A business leader is only as good as his or her associates. I have been blessed to be a part of many great teams. During more than 23 years in New Hampshire, I have had the opportunity to work with many leaders in various business settings, as well as on community related projects. The latter efforts have mostly been associated with public higher education (given my role as chair of the University System of New Hampshire's board of trustees), as well as environmental issues.

When I made my remarks at the BIA event, I issued a challenge: Support non-governmental organizations and community programs, such as the Nature Conservancy, and our system of public higher education.

We, the citizens of New Hampshire, have a treasure -- a world class resource in the institutions that make up our university system. But the system's institutions are under immense pressure and need your help.

The University of New Hampshire is a tier one research university with nationally recognized programs in many areas including ocean, air, space, engineering, business and education programs. Plymouth State University is a comprehensive regional university featuring areas of innovation including meteorology, the Center for the Environment, performing arts, and business, to name a few. Keene State College is a public liberal arts school that also excels in many areas, a few of which include education, writing, science, safety studies, and media arts. Granite State College, our online institution, features programs in business, education, general studies and provides non campus-based educational opportunities across our state.

These institutions, in conjunction with our private institutions, grant about 14,000 degrees each year. Those graduates will have a lifetime earnings potential in excess of $3.2 billion over the non-degreed population.

Public and private higher education in New Hampshire has a $3.5 billion annual impact on our economy and employs over 18,000 people full or part time. These are not my numbers but numbers from the New Hampshire Forum on the Future.

Higher education in New Hampshire is a big business -- but it is a threatened business. Costs are escalating, funding from public sources is constrained, and the demand for financial aid is increasing.

My plea to you is to become directly involved in higher education, more specifically higher public education. You can help by:

-- Serving on boards. Beyond the system-wide board of trustees, there are many opportunities to connect with our institutions. One such example is the President's Council at Plymouth State, an informal group from the region that meets regularly with President Sara Jayne Steen and provides much-appreciated advice and support.

-- Being financial benefactors. Your financial support can really make a difference. A recent gift from Janet and Richard Cohen enabled Keene State College to establish an endowed chair in Holocaust and genocidal studies. Our three residential campuses are gearing up for major fund-raising campaigns, and your involvement would be greatly appreciated.

-- Advocating in the Legislature. The voice of business supporting higher education really makes a difference. In 2001 and 2005, business advocacy efforts helped us gain legislative understanding of and support for the KEEP effort (the "Knowledge Economy Education Plan"), through which we are renovating and upgrading key science and technology facilities across all of our institutions with state support.

-- Providing and supporting internships and scholarships. Well-run internship programs can provide businesses with future employees who have already begun to prove themselves in your organization. If you don't know how to set up an internship program, contact one of our career services offices and they will assist you. Scholarships can also benefit your companies and organizations as well as the state. The New Hampshire High Tech Council just unveiled the Kocher Scholarship, through which five New Hampshire students can benefit if they demonstrate a commitment to interning and working here.

-- Supporting and sponsoring research. Research leads to innovation and innovation leads to job creation. UNH is a national and international leader in many areas of research. As UNH President Mark Huddleston said in his State of the University address a few weeks back, "research creates knowledge, enriches instruction, enhances sustainable economic development, and improves the quality of life on this planet."

Get to know our four presidents and chancellor and become engaged.

Granite State College President Karol LaCroix has made substantial progress moving the college into the on-line environment and can offer assistance to businesses and organizations in need of customized coursework and training anywhere in the state.

President Helen Giles-Gee of Keene State College gave me a book recently titled "The True Genius of America at Risk." The question it asks: Are we at risk of losing our public institutions because of cost and funding issues?

We, as New Hampshire business leaders, can't let this happen.

A true lifetime achievement for all of us would be to protect, preserve and grow these treasures of New Hampshire. I hope the state's business community will join me and many others in this endeavor.