>> Renee: DR. MICHAEL TAFT
BENSON IS EASTERN KENTUCKY
UNIVERSITY'S 13TH PRESIDENT.
HIS LEADERSHIP HAS SEEN RECORD
ENROLLMENT AND PRIVATE SUPPORT
AND IMPROVED RETENTION AND
GRADUATION RATES.
WE'LL TALK WITH DR. BENSON
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FOR HIGHER
EDUCATION IN KENTUCKY, AND HIS
NEW BOOK APPROPRIATELY ENTITLED
"COLLEGE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH."
THAT'S NOW ON "CONNECTIONS."
♪
♪
>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US FOR "CONNECTIONS" TODAY.
I'M RENEE SHAW.
SINCE AUGUST OF 2013,
Dr. MICHAEL BENSON HAS LED
EASTERN KENTUCKY AS ITS
13TH PRESIDENT.
HE'S A FORMER COLLEGE ATHLETE
AND COMPETITIVE MARATHON RUNNER
AND ALSO AN EAGLE SCOUT AND
CLASSICALLY-TRAINED PIANIST.
BEFORE COMING TO EKU, HE WAS THE
YOUNGEST COLLEGE PRESIDENT IN
THE HISTORY OF THE UTAH SYSTEM
OF HIGHER EDUCATION WHEN HE WAS
APPOINTED AT AGE 36.
BENSON' TENURE SO FAR AT EASTERN
HAS BEEN MARKED WITH HISTORIC
PROGRESS BUT ALSO SOME STEEP
CHALLENGES IN STATE FUNDING AND
WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE
DR. BENSON WAS TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> YOU'VE HAD PRACTICE REALLY
GOOD YEAREN PARTS OF 2018 WERE
GOOD AND PARTS NOT SO GOOD SO
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GOOD PARTS
OF YOUR TENURE IN THE LAST FOUR
YEARS OR SO THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
AT EASTERN.
>> WELL, IN OUR LAST GRADUATION
IN DECEMBER, CRAIG TURNER, OUR
OUTGOING CHAIR, HE'S BEEN ON THE
BOARD FOR UPWARDS OF 12 YEARS
NOW, MADE THE COMMENT THAT
DURING HIS TIME OVER 42,000
STUDENTS HAVE GRADUATED FROM
EASTERN.
SO FOR ME, THE HIGH WATER MARK
EVERY SEMESTER IN DECEMBER AND
MAY IS WHEN WE HAVE GRADUATION.
BECAUSE I GET TO SHAKE EVERY
SINGLE HAND, AND EVERY STUDENT
THAT WALKS ACROSS THAT STAGE IS
A STORY.
IT IS NOT JUST A NAME, IT IS NOT
JUST A DEGREE, IT IS A STORY, IT
IS A STORY OF SACRIFICE AND
COMMITMENT.
AND WHEN I ASK THE FIRST
GENERATION GRADUATES TO STAND
UP, IT IS A PRETTY EMOTIONAL
MOMENT.
THE FAMILIES ARE THERE AND YOU
UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICES THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE ON BEHAD HALF OF
THAT STUDENT TO GRADUATE, AND I
ALWAYS FOCUS ON THAT.
THAT FOR ME IS -- IT MAKES IT
ALL WORTH IT.
AND WHEN CRAIG SAID THAT 42,000
STUDENTS THAT WE'VE GRADUATED IN
12 YEARS AND YOU DO THE MATH,
EXTRAPOLATE FROM THAT HOW MANY
LIVING ALUMNI, OVER 130,000.
SO I --
>> NOT BAD.
>> YEAR DOING GOOD THINGS SURE
WE HAVE CHALLENGES BUT WE'RE
DOING GREAT THINGS.
>> RIGHT.
AND REVITALIZING THE CAMPUS HAS
BEEN ONE OF YOUR PIECES OF
MISSION WORK AT EASTERN AND
CERTAINLY, WE'VE VISITED THERE
RECENTLY WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR
SIX-PART SERIES ON YOUTH MENTAL
HEALTH AND TALKED TO ONE OF YOUR
PROFESSORS, Dr. MELINDA MOORE.
WONDERFUL PSYCHOLOGIST.
SHE'S TERRIFIC.
AND WE GOT TO ROAM AROUND
CAMPUS.
QUITE BEAUTIFUL.
AND A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT
YOU'VE MADE AND THINGS ARE STILL
UNFOLDING AS WE SPEAK.
>> WELL, WHEN THE -- CAME TO OUR
CAMPUS IN 1906 AND DID THE
CAMPUS MASTER PLAN, THEY SET IN
PLACE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
BUILT UPON, LITERALLY FOR
CENTURIES WHICH IS EXACTLY
WHAT'S HAPPENED.
BUT IT D IT NEEDED A REFRESH.
AND I FOUND THAT STUDENTS TODAY
ARE PRETTY SOPHISTICATED AND IF
THEY SHOW UP WITH THEIR MOM AND
DAD, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS,
WHATEVER, AND YOU DON'T HAVE
WHAT THEY WANT IN TERMS OF THE
RESIDENCE HALL, ACADEMIC SPACE,
WHAT I CALL AUXILIARY SPACE WITH
A DINING HALL AND A REC CENTER,
THEIR MONEY IS PORTABLE AND THEY
COME, OF COURSE, FOR A DEGREE
PROGRAM BUT THEY COME FOR
SAFETY, THEY COME FOR EASE OF
ACCESS AND THEY COME FOR ALL OFS
THIS KIND OF AYOU COULD TREMONTS
THAT GO WITH THE 21ST CENTURY
EDUCATION.
>> WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH, WE
DID NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SO THINGS HAVE COME A MIGHTY
LONG WAY SINCE THE EARLY 2,000.
ALONG WITH THE RENOVATION,
YOU'VE ENDURED A LOT OF BUDGET
REDUCTIONS, AND SOME CUTS TO
STAFF, CRITICAL TIMES AT EASTERN
KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY AND NOT JUST
EASTERN.
THAT'S HAPPENED ACROSS THE
STATE.
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ARE FEELING
THE SQUEEZE FROM THIS UNSOLVED
PENSION CRISIS.
THAT'S PART OF IT TOO.
AND ALSO, THE DWINDLING SUPPORT
FROM THE STATE AND WHICH CAN
ALSO TRANSLATE IN MANY CASES TO
RISING TUITION.
SO HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH
THESE FISCAL CHALLENGES THAT ARE
BEFORE YOU, WHETHER IT IS
PENSION COSTS THAT YOU'RE HAVING
TO PAY AS WELL AS THE FISCAL
SQUEEZE FROM THE STATE, BEING
CUT.
>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
STATE BUDGET AS A PIE, THERE ARE
EVER INCREASING DEMANDS ON THAT
PIE.
AND WHETHER IT IS IN THE FORM OF
MEDICAID OR OF OTHER BENEFITS,
THE PENSION ISSUE IS UNIQUE TO
KENTUCKY.
IT IS NOT UNIQUE.
THERE ARE OTHER STATES LIKE
ILLINOIS AND CALIFORNIA THAT ARE
STARTING TO FACE IT.
BUT IT IS PARTICULARLY ACUTE FOR
US.
AND I COMMEND OUR LEADERS, THEY
ARE TRYING THAT BREAST TO DEAL
WITH IT, BUT UNTIL WE GET IT
SOLVED, OR AT LEAST GET A PLAN
IN PLACE, IT IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO SIPHON OFF RESOURCES
FROM OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
FUNDED HERETOFOR IN MORE
ADEQUATE WAYS.
AND SO IT REALLY IS KIND OF
SUCKED THE OXYGEN OUT OF THE
ROOM AS IT WERE.
AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANY OF
US.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT A PLAN
HAS TO BE PUT IN PLACE TO FIX
IT.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE A MORE
COMPELLING CASE, I BELIEVE, FOR
PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION IN
KENTUCKY.
ONE THING ABOUT TO REALLY
APPRECIATE IS THE WEALTH AND THE
BREADTH OF INSTITUTIONS IN THE
STATE.
YOU KNOW, FOUR AND A HALF
MILLION PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY, A
RELATIVELY SMALL GEOGRAPHIC
STATE BUT THE INSTITUTIONS FROM
TRANSYLVANIA 1770 TO KCTCS THAT
HAS CAMPUSES ACROSS THE STATE,
THERE ARE POINTS OF ENTRY FOR
STUDENTS ALONG A VERY BROAD
SPECTRUM AND IT SHOULD BE
SOMETHING THE THAT WE
APPRECIATE, AND CHERISH AND
PROMULGATE AND SUPPORT.
AND WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB I
THINK IN MAKING THAT CASE.
>> TELL US ABOUT THE -- I HATE
TO SAY THE WORD TYPICAL STUDENT
BECAUSE THERE IS NO SUCH TYPICAL
STUDENT.
BUT THE KIND OF STUDENT IS THAT
EKU ATTRACTS.
IS IT FROM THAT EASTERN KENTUCKY
REGION?
OR DO YOU HAVE A STRONG
INTERNATIONAL BASE?
TELL US ABOUT THE STUDENT, AND
MAYBE THEIR FIRST GENERATION
STATUS AND OTHER THINGS THAT
MAKE THEM -- THAT MAKE THEM EKU
ATTRACTIVE TO THEM.
>> WELL, ONE UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTIC, 51% ARE PE LL
ELIGIBLE.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE A PELL GRANT
OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT BUT THEY
ARE ELIGIBLE.
SO WE SERVICE A CERTAIN
POPULATION THAT COLLEGES THAT
ONE OPPORTUNITY WILL CHANGE
THEIR LIFE MORE THAN ANYTHING.
I'M A PRODUCT OF THAT.
MY FATHER WAS A FIRST GENERATION
COLLEGE GRADUATE.
WE HAVE A 22 COUNTY SERVICE
REGION.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT REGION, THE
POPULATION CONTINUES TO DWINDLE,
DEMOGRAPHIC SUGGESTS THAT IT
WILL CONTINUE TO GO DOWN.
BUT, 92% OF OUR FRESHMAN CLASS
THIS LAST YEAR WAS FROM THE
STATE OF KENTUCKY.
IF YOU LOOK, KIND OF STRING THAT
OUT AND SAY, WHAT HAPPENS TO
THEM AFTER FIVE YEARS AFTER
GRADUATION, TEN YEARS, A GREAT
MAJORITY, 75% STAY IN KENTUCKY.
THEY PAY PAYROLL TAXES AND RAISE
THEIR FAMILIES HERE.
EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
DESCRIBES WHO WE ARE, IT DOESN'T
DEFINE WHO WE ARE.
WE REALLY IN A LOT OF WAYS ARE
KENTUCKY'S UNIVERSITY AND WE
HAVE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF
KENTUCKY STUDENTS AT OUR
INSTITUTION THAN ANY OTHER
PLACE.
>> ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE
DEPOPULATION OF EASTERN KENTUCKY
BECAUSE OF THE DISTRIBUTEDLING
COAL ECONOMY THAT'S DRIVEN THAT
AREA FOR SO LONG, AND WE'RE
ALREADY SEEING REMNANTS OF THAT
MIGRATION OUTSIDE OF THAT
REGION.
DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THE IMPACT
THAT COULD HAVE ON ENROLLMENT AT
EASTERN?
>> I THINK THAT ALL OF US ARE
CONCERNED WITH THAT.
WE HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH
THE PRESIDENT OF WEST VIRGINIA
UNIVERSITY JUST A FEW MINUTES
AGO.
WE TOOK A GROUP TO PITTSBURGH
AND STOPPED IN HIS CAMPUS ON THE
WAY.
AND NET OUT MIGRATION IS AN
ISSUE FOR WEST VIRGINIA.
AND SO THE PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY
THAT ARE REALLY DEALING WITH
THAT BRAIN DRAIN SO WHAT ARE WE
DOING IN HIGHERDATION TO HELP
THOSE POLICY MAKERS ESTABLISH
JOBS WITH BUSINESS, TO ATTRACT
JOBS HERE, TO ATTRACT
BUSINESSES, TO EMPLOY OUR
GRADUATES?
IT REALLY IS, IT IS NOT LIKE WE
OPERATE IN A VACUUM.
HIGHER ED HAS TO BE PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
AND TRYING OUR BEST TO BE THAT
SOLUTION IN APRIL OF 2018, THERE
WAS UNFORTUNATE NEWS WHEN THERE
WAS SOME BUDGET REDUCTIONS.
THERE WERE -- THERE WERE 153
POSITIONS THAT WERE LIMITED IN
'OR -- THAT WERE VACANT.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE
NUMBERS.
AND THEN THE BRIGHT SPOTS, THE
GRADUATION COMES A MONTH LATER.
AND LOOKING AT THOSE CHALLENGES.
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE A
BUDGET SESSION THIS YEAR IN 2019
WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUT
2020 WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW
IT.
THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT
FUNDING, AND EVEN THE
PERFORMANCE FUNDING PIECE, I
UNDERSTAND THAT EASTERN RANKS
FIVE FORECAST, I DO BELIEVE,
WHEN THE CPE PUT OUT THAT REPORT
BACK IN AUGUST OF 2018.
SO HOW ARE YOU CONCERNED OR ARE
YOU CONCERNED ABOUT
PERFORMANCE-BASED FUNDING AND
JUST THE REGULAR ALLOCATION?
FOR YOUR SERVICES?
>> VERY GOOD QUESTION.
WE WERE FOURTH, BY THE WAY.
>> FOURTH, EXCUSE THEY.
>> WE KEEP CLOSE TABS ON THOSE.
>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO DOWNGRADE
YOU.
THAT WAS COMPLETELY --
>> AND, THE PERFORMANCE-BASED
FUNDING IS A TREND AND IT IS
REALLY HERE TO STAY.
I THINK THAT 40 STATES IN THE
COUNTRY NOW HAVE SOME ELEMENT OF
PERFORMANCE-BASED FUNDING AS
PART OF THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION
FUNDING MECHANISM.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND IT IS REALLY FORCED US ALSO
IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY TO FOCUS
UPON SPECIFIC METRICS THAT MAYBE
WE -- NOT THAT WE WERE NOT
PAYING ATTENTION, WE'RE AT THE
FOREFRONT NOW.
UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY
POPULATIONS, STEM-PLUS DEGREES,
FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE
STUDENTS.
LOW-INCOME STUDENTS.
SO ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT WE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT, THAT COLLEGE
IS GOING TO BE THAT OPPORTUNITY
THAT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIFE BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, CHANGE ALL OF
THE GENERATIONS THAT FOLLOW THAT
FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE
GRADUATE GENTLEMAN AND DO YOU
THINK THAT EASTERN WOULD BE
POSITIONED TO BE ABLE TO REALLY
BE COMPETITIVE IN THAT
PERFORMANCE FUNDING OR
OUTCOM-AIR BASED MODEL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THE POPULATION THAT YOU'RE
CURRENTLY SERVING.
>> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND ALL OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE
EBBS AND FLOWS.
AS THE MODEL PLAYS OUT AND ALONG
WITH CAPILUTO, THE ONLY ONES
LEFT OF THAT ORIGINATION
DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE A LOOK BACK AND WE WILL
FINE TUNE IT BUT IT IS HERE TO
STAY AND WE'RE A PARTNER IN IT,
IN MAKING SURE THAT IT SERVES
THE STUDENTS OF KENTUCKY.
>> YOU ARE THE SENIOR
PRESIDENTIAL CLASS IN KENTUCKY.
YOU AND Dr. ELI CAPILUTO AT
UNIVERSITY OF.
YOU LOOK AT WESTERN CLOSE
PRESIDENT HAS BEEN THERE
PROBABLY ALMOST MAYBE 20 MONTHS
NOW.
KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY, HE
HAS NOT BEEN THERE THAT LONG.
MURRAY STATE.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.
U OF L.
YOU ALL ARE THE ONES WHO CAN
KIND OF TEACH THESE OTHER LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN THE ROPES, RIGHT?
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE EXODUS
OF ALL OF THAT INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE, AND HIGHER EDUCATION,
TRICKLING OUT, PRETTY MUCH IN
RAPID ORDER AT ONCE, THE IMPACT
OF THAT CAN THAT EVEN BE
MEASURED?
>> IT IS HARD TO QUANTIFY BUT
STILL, THE PEOPLE HAVE COME IN,
THEY ARE VERY CAPABLE, AND I'M
SERVING RIGHT NOW AS THE
CONVENER OF ALL OF THE
PRESIDENTS SO I HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING SURE
THAT WE'RE -- HOPEFULLY ON THE
SAME PAGE.
WE'RE INDIVIDUALS, STRONG
OPINIONS AND PERSPECTIVES AND I
RESPECT THAT.
BUT WE ALL GET ALONG, AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT I REALLY
APPRECIATE AS WELL.
ELI HAS ABOUT 18 MONTHS IN TERMS
OF SENIORITY.
BUT THE FACT IS, IF YOU LOOK AT
THESE JOBS, THERE IS SOME
TURNOVER.
BUT, THE FACT THAT WE GET ALONG,
AARON THOMPSON, THE NEW
PRESIDENT OF CPE.
>> WHO HAILS FROM EASTERN
KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.
>> HE'S ONE OF OUR GRADUATES AND
KNOWS KENTUCKY AS WELL AS
ANYBODY.
I'M SO HAPPY THAT AARON WAS
ENTRUSTED WITH THAT POSITION
BECAUSE HE'S DOING A FANTASTIC
JOB.
AND MOVING FORWARD, ALL OF US
ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.
WE ALL WANT TO -- SURE, WE LOBBY
FOR OUR RESPECTIVE INSTITUTIONS,
BUT, AT DAY'S END, COLLECTIVELY
WE HAVE TO TO ADVOCATE FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION IN KENTUCKY.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
Dr. THOMPSON HAS SPOKEN ABOUT
SEVERAL NSA SEVERAL DIFFERENT
INTERVIEWS AND HE WILL HAVE BEEN
ON THIS PROGRAM BY THE TIME THIS
INTERVIEWS.
AND IN YOUR BOOK, YOU TALK ABOUT
COLLEGE IN "COLLEGE FOR THE
COMMONWEALTH," THE VALUE OF
HIGHER EDUCATION, AND NOT JUST
FOR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT
BUT THE LARGER PUBLIC TO
UNDERSTAND THAT AND MAYBE EVEN
POLICY MAKERS, LAWMAKERS TO
UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF HIGHER
EDUCATION.
DO YOU FEEL THAT HIGHER
EDUCATION IS SOMEWHAT UNDER
ATTACK OR MISUNDERSTOOD OR
DEVALUED IN SOME WAY IN KENTUCKY
AT THIS JUNCTURE?
>> I WOULD SAY YES TO ALL OF
THOSE.
PART OF IT IS OUR OWN DOING
BECAUSE, SOME OF THE STORIES
THAT ARE OUT THERE, ABOUT HIGHER
EDUCATION ARE ISSUES THAT WE
HAVE KIND OF COME UP WITH
OURSELVES.
WHETHER IT IS COACH SALARIES OR
SCANDAL AROUND ATHLETIC TEAMS OR
WHATEVER.
STILL, ALL IN ALL, CLARK KERR,
THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAID
THE AMERICAN HIGHER EDUCATION
SYSTEM IS THE GREATEST SYSTEM IN
THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
AND IT IS TRUE.
BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE
WAYS THAT YOUR LIFE, MY LIFE,
EVERY SINGLE DAY IS IMPACTED IN
A POSITIVE WAY, BY SOME
DEVELOPMENT, SOME DISCOVERY,
SOME KNOWLEDGE THAT WAS FIRST
DISCOVERED, DEVELOPED AND
DISSEMINATED AND APPLIED.
SO CHANCES ARE IT CAME OUT OF
THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY.
WHILE WITH WE'RE NOT A RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY, WE HELP -- I
BELIEVE, TOWARD THAT GOAL, OF
PRODUCING MORE KNOWLEDGE AND
APPLYING IT TO THE BETTERMENT OF
SOCIETY IN OUR BOOK, WE TRY TO
TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT, FROM
GEORGE WASHINGTON WHO ADVOCATED
FOR A NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, EVEN
THOUGH HE WAS NOT A COLLEGE
GRADUATE, HE WAS SURROUNDED BY
THOSE THAT WERE.
AND HE SAW THE INHERENT VALUE IN
AN EDUCATED CITIZENRY.
YOU MAY GO OUT AND GET A DEGREE
THAT WILL BENEFIT U.S. AND
IMPROVE YOUR JOB PROSPECTS BUT
GUESS WHAT?
IBEN IF IT FROM THAT.
BECAUSE THE MORE EDUCATED
CITIZENRY IS GOING TO BE A BEN
FOYT ALL OF US.
>> AND NOT JUST IN TERMS OF
UPWARD MOBILITY AND PROSPERITY
BUT ALSO, BUILDING AN INFORMED
CITIZENRY, AND EVEN POLITICAL
PARTICIPATION.
YOU MENTIONED THAT AND ARUDED TO
GEORGE WASHINGTON AS WELL.
THAT IT IS NOT -- ALLUDED TO
GEORGE WASHINGTON AS WE IT IS
NOT JUST ABOUT WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
I'M CURIOUS YOUR PERSPECTIVE
BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE A
LASER FOCUS IN INTENSITY ON
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HIGHER
EDUCATION BEING A MEANS TO THAT
END.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT IS
MISSING, OR DO YOU FEAR THERE IS
SOMETHING THAT'S MISSING AND THE
VALUE OF EDUCATION BEYOND JUST
JOB PLACEMENT.
THAT WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY
VALUING THE TOTALITY OF WHAT THE
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE CAN BRING TO
ONE'S OWN LIFE.
>> VERY GOOD QUESTION.
AND MULTI-LAYERED -- IT IS TRUE.
HIGHER ED IS HELD TO THE
STANDARD OF WHAT GRADUATES ARE
YOU PRODUCING THAT CAN BE
APPLIED OR HELPED TO FILL THOSE
NEEDS IN A WORKFORCE.
BUT, I WOULD ARGUE THAT A
COLLEGE EDUCATION, YOU LOOK AT
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, WHEN YOU
SET FOOT ON CAM NEWS A
TRADITIONAL COLLEGE AGE.
AND HOW YOUR LIFE IS --
LITERALLY TRANSFORMED.
NOW, COLLEGE STUDENTS TODAY ARE
A BROAD SPECTRUM OF TYPES OF
PEOPLE AND EXPERIENCES.
SO, WE HAVE ADULT LEARNERS, AND
A GREAT MAJORITY, THERE IS A
LARGE PERCENTAGE OF AMERICAN
POPULATION THAT STOPS OUT.
YOUR LIFE HAPPENS.
WHAT CAN WE DO IN KENTUCKY TO
CAPTURE THOSE ADULT LEARNERS AND
BRING THEM BACK TO HELP THEM TO
FINISH THAT DIPLOMA.
SO, IT IS MORE THAN JUST GETTING
JOB TRAINING, IT IS MORE THAN
JUST FILLING KIND OF THAT COG IN
THE MACHINE FOR WORKFORCE NEEDS.
IT IS AN ENTIRE EXPERIENCE TO
GET ALONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE, TO
REASON TO THINK, TO WRITE, TO
ARGUE COGENTLY, AND THE FAMOUS
SAYING THAT TRUE WISDOM IS THE
ABILITY TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE
ELSE'S OPINION AND NOT LOSE YOUR
MIND OR GET ANGRY.
THAT'S WHAT COLLEGE SHOULD BE
ABOUT AND I'M PARAPHRASING.
>> SURE.
>> BUT, THE INTERACTING WITH
PEOPLE THAT ARE DIFFERENT AND
THINK AND ACT AND LOOK AND
BEDIFFERENTLY.
AT LEAST WHAT THE WORLD IS ALL
ABOUT.
AND IF WE CAN DO IT BETTER ON A
COLLEGE CAMPUS IN AN ENVIRONMENT
WHERE THE STUDENTS WILL COME TO
US, AND IN MANY WAYS HAVE THOSE
TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCES
DURING THOSE YEARS IN COLLEGE,
THAT'S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.
>> WHAT ARE YOU OFFERING THAT
WOULD LURE THE NON-TRADITIONAL
ADULT LEARNER WHO MAY HAVE SOME
CREDITS HAVE A BANK OF, YOU
KNOW, JUST 20 OR SO CREDIT WHO
DID NOT QUITE FINISH.
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO THE
LURE THOSE FOLKS BACK TO EKU AND
TO FINISH THEIR DEGREE?
>> WELL, WE'RE TRYING IT WITH
THE MARKETING MESSAGES THAT WE
PUT OUT AND A LOT OF OUR
PROGRAMS ARE NOW WHOLLY ONLINE.
SO YOU'RE SEEING IT MORE FROM
U.K. AND FROM THE INSTITUTIONS
THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH.
BUT, MAKING EASE OF ACCESS, AND
SOME STUDENTS HAVE BEEN GONE FOR
A WHILE AND THEY ARE INTIMIDATED
BY COMING BACK AND TALKING TO AN
ADVISER AND MAYBE THEIR GRADES
WERE NOT WHAT THEY WANTED BUT
THAT SHOULD BE A NO WAY WE
BELIEVE A HINDERANCE TO GET THEM
IN AND TO FINISH.
I'LL GIVE YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE HAVE THE SCHOLAR HOUSE.
IT IS A SECTION 8 HOUSING,
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING FOR SINGLE
PARENTS.
MANY OF THESE STUDENTS THERE ARE
39 UNITS.
ALL ARE OCCUPIED.
THE MAJORITY ARE FEMALE.
MANY OF THESE STUDENTS, LIFE
HAPPENED.
AND THEY REALIZED THAT WITHOUT
THE CHANCE TO LIVE IN A --
POSITIVE LIGHT LIKE IN THE
SCHOLAR HOUSE WITH CHILD CARE,
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THAT CHANCE.
I WENT TO A GRADUATION FOR SOME
OF THE FIRST GRADUATING
STUDENTS.
AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE
INSPIRED.
BECAUSE, THESE CHILDREN OF THE
STUDENTS ARE SEEING THEIR MOMS
AND DADS MAKE SACRIFICES AND
RECOGNIZE THAT A COLLEGE DEGREE
IS SO IMPORTANT TO THEM.
AND IF IT IS FOR TO THEM, IT
SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO ME.
>> AND ONE TOOL TO GET AT THIS
INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY CYCLE.
>> EXACTLY.
>> WE KNOW THE WORK OF THE
SCHOLAR HOUSE AND WE'RE GLAD TO
SEE HOW YOU'RE ALL INCORPORATING
THAT.
TENURE PROTECTION.
SO, THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEBATE
THAT'S ERUPTED ON THE SCENE IN
THE LAST FEW YEARS AND I'M
CURIOUS AS TO YOUR THOUGHTS
ABOUT THIS ACADEMIC PROTECTION.
IS THAT A NECESSITY IN RETAINING
GOOD QUALIFIED FACULTY AND WHAT
ARE THE OTHER BENEFITS FOR
ENSURING THAT THERE IS TENURE
PROTECTIONS, OR, MAYBE IS IT
TIME TO RE-EVALUATE THOSE
POLICIES?
>> WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF
STATES OUT THERE THAT ARE TRYING
THEIR BEST TO NAVIGATE AND THAT
IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT SENT YOU'RE
IS PART AND PARCEL OF THE
ACADEMIC ENDEAVOR.
IT ALLOWS PROFESSORS REGARDLESS
OF THE DISCIPLINE, TO HAVE SOME
SECURITY THAT THEY CAN BE BOLD
AND THEY CAN BE VOCAL IN THEIR
CRITIQUE OF WHATEVER IS GOING
ON, WITHOUT FEAR OF LOSING OR
RETRIBUTION OR WHATEVER.
AND I AM WHOLLY COMMITTED TO THE
PRINCIPLE OF TENURE.
NOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS
OUT THERE THAT SAY, TENURE IS A
SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE
RE-EVALUATED AND RECONSIDERED OR
POST TENURE REVIEW.
SO, THAT DISCUSSION IS HAPPENING
IN KENTUCKY AS WELL.
BUT, YOU'LL HAVE A HARD TIME
ATTRACTING FACULTY WITHOUT ANY
SORT OF GUARANTEES OF TENURE AT
A PLACE LIKE EKU IF IT WERE TO
GO AWAY.
>> AND I WANT TO REVISIT IN
OCTOBER OF 2018, WHEN JUST THE
NEWS THAT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
WAS GOING TO BE VISITING EKU ON
BEHALF OF -- THERE WAS SOME
SUBSTANTIAL PUSH BACK FROM
FACULTY AND STUDENTS AND I'M
CURIOUS IF YOU HAD TO DO IT ALL
OVER AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO
DIFFERENTLY OR DO YOU THINK THAT
THE WAY THAT YOU APPROACH THAT
MATTER AND HANDLED THAT MATTER,
SERVED WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE
UNIVERSITY IS TO PROVIDE A
PLATFORM FOR CIVIL DIALOGUE AND
OPEN DISCOURSE.
>> WELL, IT WAS CERTAINLY A
LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AND I WOULD
FIRST START BY COMMENDING ALL OF
OUR FOLKS THAT HELPED WITH BOTH
THE ORGANIZATION AND THE
EVENTUAL EXECUTION OF THE EVENT,
BECAUSE IT CAME OFF REALLY
WITHOUT A HITCH.
WE HAD A -- SOME OF THE FOLKS
THAT WERE THERE TO PROTEST
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BEING ON
CAMPUS, AND, THEY DID SO
PEACEFULLY AND THERE WERE VERY
FEW INCIDENTS THAT SAID, RENEE.
DO I BELIEVE IN THE FIRST
AMENDMENT?
YES.
I AM AN UNAPOLOGETIC SUPPORTER
OF YOUR ABILITY AND YOUR RIGHT
TO SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT.
NOW, I MAY NOT AGREE WITH IT AND
IT MAY MAKE ME REALLY
UNCOMFORTABLE, AND I MAY
DISAGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES, BUT AS A
UNIVERSITY, IS IT A PLACE WHERE
THOSE KINDS OF DEBATES SHOULD
HAPPEN?
ABSOLUTELY.
SOME SAID IT WAS NOT A DEBATE,
IT WAS A CAMPAIGN RALLY.
WE HAVE A POLICY THAT EVERYBODY,
IF THEY ADHERE TO OUR POLICIES,
CAN COME IN OUR FACILITIES AND
IT TURNS OUT THAT THE OPPONENT
TO THE CANDIDATE HELD A CAMPAIGN
EVENT TEN DAYS LATER ON OUR
CAMPUS.
SO IT IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE
FACT THAT WE'RE -- OR A PLACE
THAT WE HOPE THAT THIS COLLIDING
OF IDEAS AND A DEBATE CAN TAKE
PLACE, AS YOU SAID, IN A CIVIL
WAY, BUT WE AMERICANED A GREAT
DEAL ABOUT OURSELVES AND WE'RE
CONTINUING TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITH
OUR STUDENTS AND INVITING
STUDENTS TO COME TO HEAR
SPEAKERS THAT HAVE A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE.
>> WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM
STUDENT US AFTER THE SNACK.
>> THEY WANTED THOSE CHANCES.
THEY WANTED -- LOOK, THE
PRESIDENT SAID HIS PIECE, I WANT
TO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE COME AND
SPEAK THEIR MIND.
>> IT SO WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE
EVENTS PLANNED FOR THIS
SEMESTER.
WE'VE HAD THOSE DIALOGUES WITH
OUR STUDENTS ALREADY.
>> WELL, GOOD.
AND I THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE
BYPRODUCT.
I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF MORE
CIVIL DISCOURSE AND THAT
COLLISION OF IDEAS I THINK
THAT'S WHAT REALLY MAKE OUR
COUNTRY WHAT OUR COUNTRY IS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> YOU HAVE -- A LOT OF FOLKS
HAVE THEIR EYE OF UN,
Dr. BENSON.
RECENTLY, LAST YEAR, OF COURSE
YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
THE YOU APPLIED, UNIVERSITY OF
CHARLESTON.
>> COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON IN
SOUTH CAROLINA AND THAT DID NOT
WORK OUT BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE
CURIOUS.
YOU'RE A YOUNG MAN AND HAVE DONE
GREAT THINGS AT EKU.
YOUR PROSPECTS FOR HOW LONG
YOU'LL STAY AT EKU AND WHAT
BUSINESS DO YOU STILL HOPE TO
CONDUCT AND WHAT'S ON YOUR TO-DO
LIST STILL?
>> WELL, YOU GOT RIGHT TO IT
THERE, DIDN'T YOU.
>> I DID.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> I'M A FIRM BELIEVER AND MY
MOTHER HAD SIX KIDS, BLOOM WHERE
YOU'RE PLANTED AND I'M A
BELIEVER THAT YOU ARE IN A
POSITION TO MAKE IT BETTER, TO
DO THE BEST THAT YOU POSSIBLY
CAN, AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO
PRESENT THEMSELVES AND IT IS
RIGHT FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR
FAMILY, THEN, YOU SHOULD
CONSIDER THEM.
WE HAD A CHANCE, IT DID NOT WORK
OUT AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE
THE CHANCE TO STAY IN KENTUCKY
FOR A WHILE LONGER.
WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THAT WILL BE.
I'LL PROMISE YOU THIS.
WE'LL STAY AS LONG AS WE FEEL
THAT WE'RE DOING SOME GOOD AND
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
>> IN HAS BEEN LOTS OF
DISCUSSION, Dr. BENSON, AND I
DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE
SPOT.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING
DISCUSSION THAT THE DAYS OF THE
TEN, 20-YEAR UNIVERSITY
PRESIDENT ARE GONE.
AT MY ALMA MATER, WESTERN
KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, THE
PREVIOUS PRESIDENT BEFORE, HAD
BEEN THERE 20-SOMETHING YEARS
AND I THINK THOSE DAYS ARE
PROBABLY GONE.
DO YOU THINK THAT'S SAFE TO SAY
THAT THAT TENURE MARK IS UP?
>> WHETHER IT IS ELLIOT AT YALE
OR THEODORE AT NOTRE DAME THERE
FOR 35 YEARS, I THINK THAT'S THE
RECORD.
THOSE DAYS ARE PROBABLY BEHIND
US.
IT IS A DIFFICULT JOB.
NOBODY FORCED ME INTO IS IT.
I LOVE IT.
I REALLY DO.
THIS IS MY THIRD PRESIDENCY AND
MY KIDS ENJOY IT.
THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO
RAISE A FAMILY THAN ON A COLLEGE
CAMPUS.
BUT THE CHALLENGES ARE SUCH THAT
I THINK, IT DOES GET A LITTLE --
IT IS KIND OF A GRIND.
MY NEXT BOOK IS, I WANT TO DO A
BIOGRAPHY OF DANIEL GILLMAN THE
FIRST PRESIDENT OF JOHNS
HOPKINS, 26 YEARS AT JOHNS
HOPKINS, AND THOSE TYPES OF
TENURE I DON'T THINK ARE THE
NORM ANY MORE.
THEY ARE MORE AN ABERRATION.
>> WHEN DO YOU HAVE TIME TO
WRITE BOOKS?
I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT
THIS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> SERIOUSLY, YOU'RE DOING A LOT
AND AT ONE TIME, I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU STILL ARE CONTRIBUTING TO
THE HUFFINGTON POST.
>> NO, I DID.
I BLOGGED FOR THEM FOR ABOUT SIX
YEARS AND I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED
WRITING.
IT WAS 20 YEARS SINCE MY LAST
BOOK AND I THOUGHT, I'M OVERDUE,
AND HAL BOYD MY CO-AUTHOR IS
UNBELIEVABLY TALENTED PUMPED OUT
A GREAT DEAL.
AND SO I BELIEVE WRITING IS ONE
OF THE BEST SKILLS AND
ATTRIBUTES ANYBODY CAN DEVELOP
AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO READ.
THE MORE I READ OF GOOD WRITERS,
THE BETTER I AM.
IT IS A CRAFT THAT HAS TO BE IN
MANY WAYS PERFECTED AND
PRACTICED AND SO I TRY TO WRITE
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
>> AND IN THIS BOOK, YOU DON'T
JUST TAP THE ASK YOU IS HES OF
EKU.
YOU MENTION BEREA AND OTHER
INSTITUTIONS IN KENTUCKY.
>> THE LAST CHAPTER, FOUR
EXAMPLE, THE AVIATION PROGRAM AT
EKU, WORK STUDY AT BEREA, WHOLLY
UNIQUE.
THE HEALTH SERVICES THAT UK
OFFERS THROUGHOUT ALL 120
COUNTIES IN OUR STATE AND
LASTLY, THE STATE OF -- AT
CENTRE COLLEGE ARGUABLY THE BEST
IN THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN
KENTUCKY AND I HOPE PEOPLE
REALIZE THAT AND VALUE WHAT'S
HAPPENING HERE.
>> WHAT CAN HIGHER EDUCATION
LEARN FROM BUSINESS?
>> OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT
BUSINESS WANTS MORE
HIGHLY-SKILLED WORKERS.
WHAT OTHER KIND OF
COLLABORATIONS CAN BE HAPPENING
OR MAYBE THEY ARE HAPPENING AND
WE JUST DON'T KNOW TO REINFORCE
THE VALUE AND RELEVANCY OF
HIGHER EDUCATION AND
COLLABORATION WITH BUSINESS.
>> AS I HAVE WORKED WITH BOARD
MEMBERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE
BUSINESS LEADERS OR OWN THEIR
OWN BUSINESSES, I APPRECIATE
THAT HIGHER ED AT TIMES DOESN'T
FEEL LIKE IT IS AS ACCOUNTABLE
AS MAYBE A PRIVATE BUSINESS
MIGHT BE.
THERE ARE SHAREHOLDERS AND THE
SHAREHOLDERS WE EXPECT TO
RETURN.
THERE IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE
STATE OF KENTUCKY MAKES IN OUR
INSTITUTIONS AND SO, ARE WE
BEING ACCOUNTABLE?
PRODUCING THE RIGHT DEGREES?
ARE WE DOING IT IN A TIMELY WAY?
BEING EFFICIENT WITH WHAT WE
CONSIDER SACRED FUNDS THAT THE
TAXPAYERS IN STATE OF KENTUCKY
GIVE US.
SO, THAT TO ME IS ONE OF THE
BEST LESSONS THAT WE CAN LEARN.
ARE WE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF
THE RESOURCES GIVEN TO US AND
ARE WE PRODUCING SOMETHING WITH
THOSE RESOURCES.
>> AND YOU WOULD GRADE KENTUCKY
WHERE AND HOW RIGHT NOW ON THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE DOING
WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH WHAT WE
HAVE, I WOULD GIVE US A SOLID B,
B PLUS.
I'M ONE NOT OF THE FOR OUR
LIMITATIONS.
WE CAN DO A LOT MORE WITH WHAT
WE HAVE AND WE WILL.
>> YES.
REALLY QUICK QUESTION ABOUT
LIBERAL ARTS VERSUS STEM.
AND I SHOULDN'T SAY VERSUS BUT
FOR SOME IT FEELS THAT THERE IS
AN EMPHASIS ON STEM TO THE
DETRIMENT OF LIBERAL ARTS
EDUCATION.
>> LOOK AT THE WORD LIBERAL, THE
IT MOL GI, TO SET FREE.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
AND THE LIBERAL ARTS, REGARDLESS
OF WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO GO INTO,
TEACH YOU HOW TO THINK, HOW TO
REASON, HOW TO WRITE AND HOW TO
COMMUNICATE.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT I WOULD
ARGUE THAT THERE IS APPLICABLITY
IN ALL DISCIPLINES, AND
GRADUATES TODAY WILL HAVE FIVE
OR SIX OR SEVEN OR EIGHT OR TEN
DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS.
THEIR JOBS, THEY ARE NOT EVEN
DEVELOPED YET THAT OUR GRADUATES
IN 2020 WILL HAVE.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PREPARE
STUDENTS TO BE MALIATABLE, TO BE
ADAPTABLE, AND TO BE THE BEST
POSSIBLE CITIZENS THAT THEY CAN
BE.
>> SO WHEN YOU DO MAKE YOUR EXIT
FROM EKU WHICH WE HOPE WILL BE
MANY YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT WILL
YOU BE ABLE TO SAY OR HOPE THAT
YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED THERE?
>> I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY,
YOU KNOW, MIKE CAME FROM THE
WEST WITH HIS FAMILY, AND REALLY
MADE KENTUCKY THEIR HOME.
AND THEY LEFT IT -- THE
INSTITUTION BETTER THAN HOW THEY
FOUND IT.
IT IS AN INSTITUTION THAT HAS
BEEN AROUND SINCE 1874 AND HAS A
PROUD TRADITION AND AN
UNBELIEVABLE HERITAGE AND DID WE
MAKE IT BETTER, AND I HOPE WE'LL
SAY YES.
>> AND I HOPE WE'LL SAY YES TO
THAT A LONG, LONG TIME FROM NOW.
Dr. MICHAEL BENSON, THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
AND, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING
TODAY.
YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND WATCH
PREVIOUS EPISODES OF
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YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK AND
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WE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR
WATCHING.
I'M SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
TAKE CARE.