Fundamentally, the flattened world requires that all institutions of higher education become more skilled in competing for and retaining talented faculty and in preparing their students for a higher level of global competition.
“When one is behind in the race of life, you must run faster, or forever remain behind,” said the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In the flat world, MSIs will have to work harder and work smarter to get their share of students, top faculty, grants, contracts and private sector investments. To ensure that students are exposed to and prepared for the modern workplace, MSIs should be working to strengthen collaborations with business, industry and the nonprofit sector.
Friedman’s vision is “to put every American man or woman on a campus.” My vision is to fill minority-serving institutions with motivated students of all ages and races, with the campus in use during the day, evening and all year long. MSIs should not forget their strengths in doing more with less. They have welcoming campuses, diverse faculties and most have room to grow. With hard work, strategic planning and action, minority-serving institutions can flourish in a flat world.
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
