Mark Zupan, Alfred University president, was a guest on the Tuesday, Oct. 28, episode of “Connections with Evan Dawson” on WXXI, Rochester’s National Public Radio affiliate.
Mark Zupan, Alfred University president, was a guest on the Tuesday, Oct. 28, episode of “Connections with Evan Dawson” on WXXI, Rochester’s National Public Radio affiliate.
In the episode—titled “Does hurting universities hurt America?”—Zupan discussed the important role institutions of higher education play in our nation’s economic health and the need to embrace the knowledge-based economy fueled by higher ed.
Included in the discussion was reference to an August 28 opinion piece Zupan wrote for U.S. News & World Report titled “Why Hurting Universities Hurts America’s Bottom Line.” In the U.S. News & World Report article, Zupan questioned the wisdom of investing in the manufacturing sector at the expense of the knowledge-based services which currently drive the U.S. economy.
“Universities do far more than educate future leaders, create knowledge and drive scientific, medical and technological research and innovation. They also power local and national economies by employing, training and investing in their communities and purchasing local goods and services,” Zupan wrote, noting that that of the 100 U.S. counties with the highest productivity, nearly half are home to at least one research university. “These 44 communities represent less than 1.5 percent of the counties in America, yet they generate 35 percent of the nation’s economic output.”
Zupan also discussed how Alfred University has seen its enrollment numbers increase (including those for international students), despite a shortage of college-age students that has caused some institutions’ enrollment to decline; Alfred University’s AU Scholars program, which offers generous scholarships to high school students nominated for the award by their guidance counselors; and research from Alfred’s Inamori School of Engineering related to the space, defense, and energy industries.
