Letters from Kay Kohl

Continuing Education Needs To Reclaim Convener Role

(UCEA InFocus, January 2006)
Kay Kohl, UCEA Executive Director and CEO

Professional studies, postbaccalaureate certificates, degree completion programs, and enrichment courses are the mainstay of many college and university continuing education unit portfolios today. C.E. units seem to have all but relinquished what was once a key function, namely their convening role. This trend is perhaps attributable to a combination of factors: a drive to be self-supporting, an increased reliance on elearning, and the perception that the audience for serious public policy discussion is limited. Meanwhile, the United States seems to be nearing the "tipping point" on a number of important issues—issues that warrant wide public debate. These are not issues that can be categorized as either red state or blue state issues, but issues of relevance to all citizens—issues such as global warming, health care, and immigration.

For example, last year—2005—was the warmest year on record. That has scientists very concerned. They predict that unless global carbon dioxide emissions are slashed in half over the next 50 years, the trend may not be reversible. While scientists do not agree upon how imminent the tipping point is, they see increased global warming producing a dramatic sea level rise owing to the disintegration of ice sheets, causing extensive coral bleaching that could damage the world's fisheries, and eventually shutting down the ocean current that moderates temperatures in northern Europe.

Another urgent issue is health care. National health insurance has long been an anathema to big business. But recently General Motors, concerned about avoiding bankruptcy, called on Washington to do more about the health care. The automaker noted that because it pays $1,500 in health care costs for every car it produces, it is at a disadvantage with competitors from countries that have national health insurance. States, too, are burdened by soaring Medicaid costs. They accuse employers like Wal-Mart of using the program to keep their costs low. Some states have begun to go after such employers and are requiring them to spend more on employee health care. With fewer employers providing health care and with 46 million Americans uninsured, there is a sense that the country is rapidly arriving at the "tipping point" on health care.

Finally, although many Americans take pride in describing their country as "a nation of immigrants," the seemingly endless river of illegal immigrants flowing into the United States over its southern border has led to vigilante groups, a border fence, and additional guards. However, these actions have done little to stem the tide of migrants seeking entrance into the country without documentation. Nor have government actions seemed to deter employers from hiring undocumented workers upon whose labor they have come to depend. Higher education institutions are not apart from this discussion. Whether or not to extend resident tuition benefits to illegal immigrants who attended U.S. high schools is a subject being debated in several state legislatures. Again, finding a way to regularize immigration is yet another issue that seems verging on the "tipping point."

C.E. units have the convening power… the capacity to engage citizens in issue discussions through diverse formats such as public symposia, webinars, town hall meetings, and through public broadcast programming. C.E. units have the links with community groups, the programming skills, and the access to university knowledge resources that go into developing meaningful public debates. Continuing education needs to reclaim the important role of convener.