[Vision2020] BYU-Idaho Enrollment
Bill London
london at moscow.com
Wed Oct 4 17:41:59 PDT 2006
Trying to distill this conversation, I think that it's true that we have a community-wide agreement that attracting clean high-tech businesses is our economic development goal. Within that framework, there has been plenty of disagreement and finger-pointing.
Some specifics:
Jerry holds Walla Walla as an example of a well-developed community, and asks for my opinion. I agree. I visited Walla Walla, and my Daily News travel column about that visit focused on the vitality of their downtown. Walla Walla has been very successful due to the community's support for public art, the recent boom in wine (bringing new $ and new creative people), the commitment to building their downtown and keeping their colleges out of the downtown area.
G. Crabtree asks me to justify my statement that :"They (the owners of clean, high paying, high tech business) do not like freeways, strip malls, and huge Wal-Mart's." Sure. I suggest he look to www.creativeclass.org for a look at Richard Florida's well-respected work in economic development. Florida explains that the "creative class" (the thinking folks who make econ dev happen) are attracted to communities with a vibrant and tolerant culture, available outdoor recreation, and clusters of like-minded folks for friends and employees (think near a university or two). Not a homogenized McWasteland. Also, try www.milkeninstitute.org for comparisons of growing communities nationwide.
Hope for the future? Yes, I think there is a growing interest in stopping all this finger-pointing. The new Knowledge Corridor concept is a great opportunity to link the strengths of Moscow, Pullman, WSU, and UI. Moscow would really benefit from that combination since WSU/Pullman is growing stronger daily. The first meeting is October 23, 11am to 2pm, in Pullman. The local EDC is co-hosting this event, and you can get details and register (reservations are required, but the public is welcome) at edc at moscow.com
BL
----- Original Message -----
From: Jerry Weitz
To: g. crabtree ; Bill London ; Tom Trail ; vision2020 at mail-gw.fsr.net
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 10:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] BYU-Idaho Enrollment
Bill and Gary,
I agree that everyone desires high tech business in their area. What progressive communities are doing is very exciting. In a study of Munich, there is a strong trend to form communities within communites (the same for Chicago) and attend to the livability factors. Cities are wising up to what you allude to--packed freeways, strip malls, etc. Thus if a company needs an educated workforce, they are considering cities and downtown locations. More young, single, educated people are moving to the cities. Rural areas(Mont.,S.D., N.D., Iowa, Neb.,and Kan.), are beginning to fight back by the lures of free land and office space, low-interest loans for new business, advice and mentoring, and rural business tax breaks. Moscow is not. Bill, tonight I spoke with a young person (whom we both know) that wishes to stay in Moscow when she marries. This young potential couple is highly educated and are not able to find work. Last year, I attended UI's Vandal Banquet honoring our academic athletes, a number said they loved the Palouse, however they would have to move to regions that offer a future since there is a lack of job opportunities locally. So why not accomodate these great young people?
Our assets are the Universities and the rural setting. The University: A remarkable invention of western culture and a decisive catalyst in modern soceity; an essential factor to society's effective functioning and well-being. It manufactures no products, but creates the science and technology on which those products depend. The university trains and nutures each new generation of architects, artists, authors, business leaders, engineers, farmers, lawyers, physicians, poets, scientists, social workers and teachers. Thus we have two great positives: UI and WSU.
Yet, our rural University is declining, and has garnered less than great ratings in the Princeton Review. Since knowledge is the dominant economic force, the importance of the University can only grow in a rapidly changing environment. Technology and education have fused. I recently took a course in graduate statistics from UW online. Being a math major, I have to admit statistics was not my favorite although the theory of probability was great. Our office will be part of UW/Oregon Health Science's research faculty. The on-line experience was the best math class I have ever participated in. Recall, I once studied Math in Germany for one year. Hence, location (mortar and brick) are not as important as technology improves. The American Community College is considered the best American invention in higher ed in a recent Economist magazine's feature on the state of education in America. Hence, Moscow has a way to go in helping defend UI against 21th century economic and educational realities. However, the Quad cities have two great assets. LCSC and WWCC.
In Harvard's Derek Bok's two recent books, Universities in the Marketplace, and Our Underacheiving Colleges addresses why Moscow may want to change, grow, embrace prosperity, and become business friendly. Being isolated, rural, anti infrastructure are not advantages. BSU has every intention of being the flagship both in relevence, research, and student population. BSU has significant Business Support.
Bill, please tell me what you think of Walla Walla why we shouldn't model its optimism and actions. Thomas Freidman had a great editorial about Europe's former poor house--Ireland. Ireland invested in infrastructure, education, and business friendliness.. Walla Walla did the same. The results are remarkable. Jerry
At 06:27 PM 10/3/06, g. crabtree wrote:
Mr. London, could you flesh out your sweeping assertion that "They (the owners of clean, high paying, high tech business) do not like freeways, strip malls, and huge Wal-Mart's."? The bulk of those types of businesses are, in fact, located in cities that do have those things and, for the most part, in spades. Ed Schweitzer, the owner of what has to be the holy grail of the types of businesses that are being discussed, is not preparing to pull up stakes and bolt over a superstore, far from it. Increased expansion is the order of the day. He is on record as being "a strong proponent" of Pullman's Super Wal-Mart and is also in favor of greatly improved transportation in the Moscow-Pullman area. Could you point me to the study, poll, or interview that would bear out your contention that a bit of development would scare off the future high tech golden geese? Or is this simply a personally held conviction that you felt comfortable foisting onto the backs of entrepreneurs in an effort to further your own bucolic vision for Moscow?
gc
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill London" <london at moscow.com>
To: "Tom Trail" <ttrail at moscow.com>; <vision2020 at mail-gw.fsr.net>; "Jerry Weitz" <gweitz at moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 2:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] BYU-Idaho Enrollment
> J-
> In your earlier post, you spoke of making a significant change in this
> community. You wrote that we needed to embrace change and growth.
> I tried to bring some specificity to that language when I asked about
> your reaction to the Naylor Farms permit. In response, you noted that you
> did not favor the Naylor Farms industrial model of growth, but instead
> wanted clean high-tech businesses.
> I hope that is an accurate summary of this discussion so far.
> My point now is that what you are asking for (infusion of high-tech
> businesses) is the status quo. Everybody wants that. Every city and county
> in the US, and probably the world, wants clean well-paying high-tech
> businesses. So, that is not new. With Alturas park, the business
> incubator, the LEDC, and all, Moscow is already doing that.
> So, I wonder -- what is your point? when you talk about embracing
> growth and change, if the growth and change is carefully directed toward
> clean high-tech businesses, I do not think you will find very many people
> disagreeing. That is the Holy Grail of economic development these days --
> and one that I support.
> I think Moscow can recruit these in-demand high-tech businesses, either
> by drawing them in or by growing them from the UI/WSU. But the reason they
> would choose to settle here (remember they are being bribed by cities and
> counties from all over to move to those locations) is that they like the
> quality of life here.
> The owners of those businesses like bike paths and good schools and a
> vibrant cultural life. They do not like freeways, strip malls, and huge
> Walmarts.
> So, Jerry, what is it that you want to change about Moscow in your goal
> of embracing growth?
> BL
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jerry Weitz" <gweitz at moscow.com>
> To: "Bill London" <london at moscow.com>; "Tom Trail" <ttrail at moscow.com>;
> <vision2020 at mail-gw.fsr.net>
> Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 9:34 PM
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] BYU-Idaho Enrollment
>
>
>> Bill, Naylor Farms is not the type of growth I have ever pushed. What I
> am
>> talking about is a Stanford Research Park....Schweitzer type companies.
> In
>> this week's Kiplinger Report under trends, the letter reports a 30%
>> increase (from 25 years ago) of young people moving to and remaining in
>> urban areas. There are rural areas that are fighting back to keep their
>> youth and/or recruit youth to their regions by offering strong tax
>> incentives and in some cases, free land for businesses these youth are
>> starting. Incidently, there are more upstart high tech companies in the US
>> than ever in our history. Moscow is not an area that focuses on retaining
>> our youth since job creation is not on the radar screen. In one
> editorial,
>> I suggested that the county buy Naylor farms and turn it into a
>> business/ed research park. I talked with Sid Eder and Paul Kimmell about
>> this concept.
>>
>> Would you agree such a business/ed park could reverse UI's decline? MIT
> has
>> less enrollment than UI and its graduates/faculty have spun off over 4,000
>> companies and these companies collectively employ 1.1Million
>> Folks. Route 128 in Boston in bristling with firms that are examples of
>> bus/ed. Micron, for example, donated $5 million to BSU for two Phd
>> programs in engineering. Micron used to donate to UI and I was told by an
>> engineering prof that Micron-UI donations have dryed up, however
> Schweitzer
>> donates heavily to both WSU and UI. Gone are the days of extractive
>> industries. I do not think it would take too many companies to reverse
> the
>> town's outlook. I do not believe our area will become an urban
>> center. Research shows that in 1910, with the students are factored out,
>> there was more population on the Palouse (Whitman and Latah Counties) than
>> in year 2000. I am not afraid of growth, however there has been almost no
>> planning. When you visited Walla Walla, did you feel the optimism and
>> experience a very nicely laid out community? When I went to college in
>> the mid 60's, Walla Walla was still complaining about not being the
> capitol
>> of WN and had a no-can-do-it attitude. When one extractive industry
>> (timber) declined, Walla Walla refocused and came up with the wine
>> industry. WWCommuniy College just started about when I graduated and has
>> matured nicely. Whitman and Walla Walla College, the two privates, work
>> together. The public k-12 is very progressive. Safe highways are lobbied
>> for and Walla Walla has over a square mile of business park. Their
> chamber
>> is very organized and its web page is excellent. Walla Walla is a city of
>> the arts.
>>
>> So what I am saying, we could do the same and by doing the same, I believe
>> UI's fortunes will be enhanced and Moscow will benefit.
>> Jerry
>> At 03:20 PM 10/1/06, Bill London wrote:
>> >Jerry:
>> >A question: Naylor Farms, in their pitch for a county permit for the
>> >operation of their mining operation north of Moscow, promised growth,
>> >economic development, jobs, and economic diversification -- in short,
>> >everything you have said that you support. Do you believe that the Latah
>> >County Commissioners were wrong to deny Naylor Farms the option of
>> >developing their land in that manner?
>> >BL
>> >
>> >
>> >----- Original Message -----
>> >From: "Jerry Weitz" <gweitz at moscow.com>
>> >To: "Tom Trail" <ttrail at moscow.com>; <vision2020 at mail-gw.fsr.net>
>> >Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2006 11:16 PM
>> >Subject: Re: [Vision2020] BYU-Idaho Enrollment
>> >
>> >
>> > > UI needs a boost with a business/ed research park similar to say
> Chapel
>> > > Hill, N.C.. WSU/Pullman/IU/Moscow are the assets. As Ed Schweitzer
>> > > said, we live in a sea of land and a declining population.
> Schweitzer
>> > > Engineering has a challenge in recruitment and expansion due to the
> lack
>> >of
>> > > housing and population. Schweitzer has said that his company in not
> in
>> >the
>> > > real estate business, yet had to develop over 90 acres for housing.
> The
>> >no
>> > > growth folks are hurting the UI, our area's potential, and Schweitzer.
>> > >
>> > > The UI is down 737 students state wide, with a decline of 628 at the
>> > > Moscow campus. BSU is up 277 to 18,876 (BSU has increased enrollment
> 9
>> >out
>> > > of the last 10 years). BYU/Idaho is up 1220 students. Within five
> years,
>> > > at present growth rates, BYU/Idaho will see 20,000 students and within
> 10
>> > > years 30,000. Recall, BYU/Idaho with President Kim Clark, the
> immediate
>> > > former dean of Harvard Business School, has three imperitives: 1)
> Vastly
>> > > increase enrollment, 2) vastly improve educational quality, and 3)
> keep
>> > > relative educational costs down. Note that BYU/Provo turns away
>> > > qualifiedsutdents-- about as many that apply.. I would guess: one of
> the
>> > > church's motives for expansion. BYU/Provo is a high educational
> quality
>> > > school. UI will most likely benefit at the graduate level due to
> BYU/Idaho
>> > > enrollment increases and mostly likely will see a decline in LDS kids
> at
>> > > the undergraduate level.
>> > >
>> > > ISU has lost about10% this year ( a decline of over 1200 ). UI
> officials
>> > > anticipated that its Twin Falls campus would suffer large declines and
>> >made
>> > > the right move to transfer out. Presently, UI's commendable response
> is
>> > > to place a lot of effort into recruitment and quality, however all
> Idaho
>> > > Public Universities will following suit and the competition will be
>> > > strong. The result may be little net gain.
>> > >
>> > > There will be a push by UI to have a strong presence in CDA.
> Presently,
>> > > for example, CDA has been begging UI for a MBA program in their
>> > > area. Money is the issue.. Gonzaga has filled the MBA role so far
> and is
>> > > expensive. The MBA needs to be tailored for the working professional.
>> > >
>> > > Here is the challange: If the community keeps up with its petty
> politics,
>> > > such as stopping safe highways, serving an eviction notice to the
>> > > Alternative High School, not dealing with water and other
>> > > infrastructure..schools, losing its commerical base to the Pullman
>> > > corridor, then the UI will have to accept declines in status, funding,
> and
>> > > enrollment. It will be like Ohio University vs Ohio State University
> in
>> > > dealing with BSU. All of higher ed will now have to compete with k-12
> if
>> > > the economy softens due to the sales tax shift.
>> > > Boise will get a community college and should.. adding more
> competition
>> >for
>> > > the ed dollar.
>> > >
>> > > Yet, there exists a tremendous potential here on the Palouse for a
> robust
>> > > economy and thriving Universities. Think of the possiblities in
>> > > alternative energy, global warming solutions (after all the ozone
> layer
>> >has
>> > > almost been restored), agriculture, water, etc. and the spin off's.
>> >Think
>> > > of how much value Schweitzer Engineering has added to humankind and
> this
>> > > area. Think of how the UI's reputation would be enhanced..the MIT of
> the
>> > > west. The Palouse Universities have the potential of being defining
> 21th
>> > > Century institutions. The community must embrace growth and change
> (the
>> > > only constant).
>> > >
>> > > Now Tom, what are you going to do and what postion are you going to
>> > > take? Jerry
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > At 04:12 PM 9/26/06, Tom Trail wrote:
>> > > >Visionaires:
>> > > >
>> > > >One should keep an eye on the enrollment trends in S.E. Idaho. The
>> > > >enrollment at BYU-Idaho in Rexburg is over 15,000, and experts
> predict
>> > > >that within a few years it will overtake BSU and thus become the
> largest
>> > > >institution of higher learning in Idaho. The 9% drop in enrollment
> at
>> > > >ISU may be partially attributed competition with BYU-Idaho.
>> > > >
>> > > >Rep. Tom Trail
>> > > >--
>> > > >Dr. Tom Trail
>> > > >International Trails
>> > > >1375 Mt. View Rd.
>> > > >Moscow, Id. 83843
>> > > >Tel: (208) 882-6077
>> > > >Fax: (208) 882-0896
>> > > >e mail ttrail at moscow.com
>> > > >
>> > > >=======================================================
>> > > > List services made available by First Step Internet,
>> > > > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>> > > > http://www.fsr.net
>> > > > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>> > > >=======================================================
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > =======================================================
>> > > List services made available by First Step Internet,
>> > > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>> > > http://www.fsr.net
>> > > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>> > > =======================================================
>> > >
>>
>>
>
> =======================================================
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> http://www.fsr.net
> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> =======================================================
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20061004/ad0e42ed/attachment-0001.htm
More information about the Vision2020
mailing list