Florida State College leads presidential panel on future of higher education

Jacksonville college presidents trade strategies, quips
By Matt Coleman

The four biggest names in Jacksonville's higher education community are in agreement. They can't go it alone.

"We're in this together," Florida State College at Jacksonville President Steven Wallace said Thursday in front of a packed auditorium at the school's South campus. "Educating Northeast Florida takes a team effort, and that's why we're here today."

Wallace was joined by University of North Florida President John Delaney, Jacksonville University President Kerry Romesburg, and Edward Waters College Interim President Nat Glover for a lively discussion about the regional future of higher education.

A major discussion topic was the Jacksonville Commitment, a scholarship program spearheaded by Glover three years ago that is designed to take students from poverty to a college degree without incurring student loans. The city has injected about $1.8 million into the program over the last two years - enough money for about 200 students a year.

It's also funded through private support raised by the schools. Since the start of Commitment, FSCJ has pledged about $1,000 for 100 of the students per year.

Wallace said he views the program as a game-changer for the city, a segue to him announcing FSCJ was going to boost its annual gift to about $3,000 per student. He also said the there wouldn't be a cap on the number of students who qualify for the increased aid.

"Access is the key here," he said. "It doesn't matter the school they choose. We want them staying in Jacksonville for college."

It's a point that was reiterated throughout the discussion. The presidents lauded the beneficial and sometimes symbiotic relationships they've fostered with their regional counterparts.

Most FSCJ students who graduate with a two-year degree transfer to UNF to pursue their bachelor's degree. FSCJ and JU have been discussing a joint program in aviation. And Glover served as a special adviser to Delaney before taking the reins at Edward Waters.

The panel's consensus was that Jacksonville is big enough for the four of them.

The disparate natures of the schools - a public research university, a private college, a primarily two-year state college and a historically black college - ensure they won't be squabbling over student recruitment.

"We don't have to fight for enrollment numbers locally, so we're able to focus on doing what we do best," Wallace said. "And preparing graduates for the workforce is a focus for each of us here."

Jacksonville has been locked in a perpetual budget crunch for years. At the same time, the housing market has withered and jobs have evaporated.

Relying on a state bailout is out of the question, so the presidential panelists said they need to pool their collective resources to help bolster the local economy through education.

Delaney said a thriving network of distinct colleges producing work-ready graduates could help jump start the area's "knowledge economy."

"When it comes down to it, the more educated the city, the better the chance of attracting some of these top-flight companies," he said

The wide-ranging chat jumped from serious topics - like the steady rise of student debt loads and the state's constant budget woes - to a snappy repartee between panel members laced with good-natured barbs.

Delaney joked with Romesburg about the relative cost of a JU education compared to his public college counterparts, and Romesburg touted his sports programs as superior to the rest.

"We're all good friends, so the way we acted on stage is pretty much how we act all the time," Wallace said. "I'd like to think we're all funny, but I believe Kerry [Romesburg] got the most laughs. His timing was immaculate."

matt.coleman@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4654