| By Lisa M. Rosellini
Public Information |
Junker re-elected chairman of the board. |
The
University must continue to respond quickly to the needs of society, while keeping
its eye on quality as it transitions into the next century, otherwise it will
become irrelevant or obsolete, advised Edward P. Junker III, chairman of Penn
State's Board of Trustees, who spoke about the University's future during a
Jan. 20 talk at University Park.
Junker, who was guest speaker for the Penn State Forum, shared some of the concerns the 32-member Board of Trustees is likely to face as it helps guide the University in the coming decades.
Junker, retired vice chairman of PNC Bank Corp., has been a trustee for the past 14 years and was reelected last Friday as chairman of the board. From his perspective in the chairman's seat, Junker sees an institution that has managed to remain flexible and vital, despite the "daunting" fiscal challenges it has faced. Pennsylvania is ranked 47th among states for its support of higher education. Over the years, Penn State has received appropriations from the state that fell short of expectations.
"The board feels very good about Penn State's direction and momentum under the leadership of President Graham Spanier," Junker told the hundreds of people who trekked through wintry weather to hear his talk. "We all know Penn State could contribute so much more if we were not constrained by the availability of resources."
The chairman of the board reiterated his belief that the "single most important responsibility for the board is to hire the president ... and then stay out of his or her way."
"It is our duty to support the president, particularly when the institution is under the internal or external pressures that inevitably arise for a University as large and diverse as Penn State," he said.
Junker outlined some of the challenges he believes the board will confront in the years to come, including:
1) Defining institutional quality.
2) Reflecting demographic changes in society. The University must work to ensure that it is accessible to all segments of the population and that it changes to meet the needs of this increasingly diverse group.
3) Defining programs to respond to today's marketplace. Junker cited the new School of Information Sciences and Technology as one example of how Penn State is rising to this challenge.
4) Ensuring that Penn State has a sound fiscal position.
5) Facing new competition, such as online institutions. Junker said from 1995 to 1998, the number of distance education programs in the nation grew 72 percent. In 1998, 1,680 institutions offered a total of 54,000 online courses with 1.6 million students enrolled. Penn State's World Campus, launched two years ago, is addressing this concern.
6) Continuing to serve the Commonwealth and the nation through its commitment to teaching, research and service. Penn State must expand its role in economic development and the continued progress of society. In the United States last year, medical and technological advances resulting from academic research contributed more than $33.5 billion to the economy and led to the creation of 280,000 new jobs, Junker said.
"I believe that higher education is the single largest driving force for the economy of the future," he said. "Our collaboration with the state to serve Pennsylvanians must continue to be a central part of Penn State's mission."