ROCHESTER MAGAZINE

Why is 2022 such an important year for higher

ed? Leaders from area colleges give you
insight on 2022
How has the pandemic changed local education? Are more and new options available this
year? Leaders from the four area colleges give you the inside insight on 2022. Also, get
your college-specific questions answered in our Cheat Sheet to Colleges.

By Rochester Magazine Staff

August 12, 2022 at 7:30 AM

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Young adult students in class. Getty Images

Why is 2022 an important time for high

schoolers (and their parents) to look toward
higher education?
 
“The obvious is financial security, with the Bureau of Labor
Statistics suggesting those with an associate degree earn $150+
more per week than those with only a high school diploma. But
there are other reasons, such as learning how to collaborate in
groups, and building skills in time management, critical thinking
and problem-solving. All desired skills by employers.”

—Jeffery S. Boyd, RCTC President

“There are so many good questions for students and their parents
to ask when considering attending a university or college. Many of
the questions revolve around affordability, access, and value,
particularly pertinent due to the pandemic and today’s economy.
Why attend a university or college or get additional education? The
value of higher education remains clear as it prepares students for
future careers and helps adult students advance their current
careers or step into new ones. Employers say they need people who
can learn, adapt, and influence change. Pursuing higher education
continues to be the best avenue to get that preparation and stay
current or acquire new skills.”

—Tim Albers, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, Saint

Mary’s University

“All employment sectors are undergoing tremendous change now,

as a result of the pandemic, advances in technology, and continued
globalization. Higher education can provide the skills and
knowledge necessary to adapt to these changes and to succeed in
jobs that may not yet exist! High schoolers can gain autonomy over
their futures with a college degree.”

—Kendra Weber, Director of Admissions, Winona State

University

“Students considering their futures in 2022 are very aware of the

many challenges our world is facing. I want high schoolers to know
they can be part of creating solutions! Students: You can make a
difference in the world--and make a living. True too, the surest
path to that kind of life requires further learning after high school.

At the University of Minnesota campus in Rochester (UMR), we’re

developing the potential of young people who want to solve the
grand health challenges of this century—from mental health, to
healthcare leadership, to patient care, to research and discovery, to
public health and policy, to emerging health technologies, and
more. Fascinating lives of purpose are possible.”

—Lori J Carrell, PhD, Chancellor, University of Minnesota-

Rochester

How has the pandemic changed education at

your college?
“Like all educators, Winona State faculty and staff found ways to
connect and provide information and services to students at a
distance. We were already a very connected and tech-savvy campus
with a longtime student laptop program, which made the transition
seamless for us compared to many other institutions. We are taking
the lessons learned from that time to rethink how education can be
delivered, as well as relishing the opportunity to bring our
community back together physically on our beautiful campus in
Winona and our classrooms in Downtown Rochester and at RCTC.”

—Kendra Weber, Director of Admissions, Winona State

University

“Faculty are reporting a decline in student preparedness for

college, resulting in a need to develop new teaching strategies.
RCTC is connecting students in gateway classes, like English and
Math, with more academic resources for success.”

--Jeffery S. Boyd, RCTC President

“We’ve found new ways to support student success, leading to the
launch of an innovative program called NXT GEN MED. We know
we need humanity and technology to work together to shape the
future of higher education and the future of healthcare! We have
also learned that those who will employ graduates are important
partners for higher education institutions. And importantly, we
know we need to drive the costs of a college education down while
driving the quality up, including equity in degree completion (no
“achievement gap”).

This NXT GEN approach to a University education is designed for

learners who want to make a difference in the world as soon as
possible. With Google Cloud, we’ve built a tech platform to engage
students and support their progress as future healthcare business
leaders. Creative University of Minnesota faculty who adapted and
learned during the pandemic have now designed a sequence of
courses focused on healthcare challenges like racial disparities in
the pandemic. Every NXT GEN student will have a Mayo Clinic
mentor and an internship, as they work closely with faculty and
each other to develop needed competencies. NXT GEN MED will
also make a University of Minnesota college degree even more
affordable, using summers to move students to career launch
sooner.”

—Lori J Carrell, PhD, Chancellor, University of Minnesota-

Rochester

“We are offering a broader range of options for how to take courses
—online vs. in person—as well as making it easier for students to
view and follow lectures and classes through video, discussions,
and online access to faculty. More than 300 faculty become
certified in online learning beginning early in the pandemic. They
have upskilled in this area, and that benefits student learning.
Because of the pandemic, students had fewer opportunities for
engagement and socializing, and as a result, we know that we need
to be welcoming and invite students to take part in activities,
connect with peers, and build community.”
—Tim Albers, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, Saint
Mary’s University

Have online classes opened up more options for

incoming high school students?
“Yes. RCTC has expanded online offerings by almost 20% in the
past four years. Today, over half our classes are offered with an
online component.”

—Jeffery S. Boyd, RCTC President

“Yes, though we learned during the pandemic that our incoming

high school students achieve better with some in-person course
work as well, so they are able to grow their social skills alongside
their academic skills. Since the pandemic, our faculty have offered
more courses online to keep students on track, and through
Panopto (our classroom capturing video system), students can
easily catch up on a missed class without skipping a beat, or easily
review a portion of a lecture they would like to review.”

—Tim Albers, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, Saint

Mary’s University

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