Higher education is a major economic force, especially in the Rochester area,home to 19 colleges and universities, more than 80,000 students, and thousands of faculty and staff. These schools have an impact of over $3 billion a year on the local economy. It is clear from this that higher education is an economic engine, and I believe that any government economic stimulus package should help grow that sector of our economy.
The good news is that both the House and Senate versions of the stimulus package contain provisions to benefit higher education. Both versions include an increase in the funds for the Pell Grant Program, which provides need-based grants that can be used at over 5000 U.S. colleges and universities. Increased Pell grants will enable families to continue to afford the cost of higher education. The proposed bills also will increase funding for scientific research.
The bad news, however, is that the Senate package eliminates funding for shovel-ready construction projects on colleges campuses. This is short-sighted and ignores the significant short- and long-term impacts of such projects. Nazareth, for example, is planning a new science and math facility. We estimate that the $25-30 million construction project would have an immediate impact on the economy, employing over 250 construction workers and 20 engineers and architects.
The project would have a long-term impact as well. The purpose of the facility is to better prepare students in the fields of math and science. Some of our students go on to get graduate degrees in these subjects and become research scientists or teachers in elementary and secondary schools. Many Nazareth graduates pursue careers in health-related fields like nursing, physical therapy, and creative arts therapy. The state and federal labor statistics indicate that over the next decade the highest employment needs – three out of every ten jobs -- will be in the area of teacher education (especially math and science) and health and human services. The planned science and math facility will allow us to best prepare students for those jobs.
I hope that the final economic stimulus legislation will recognize the importance of campus construction projects like our science/math facility — projects that will have a real, immediate, and enduring impact on the economy and our community as a whole.
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