In Our View: WSUV Makes a Difference

As Washington State University Vancouver continues to grow and further entrench itself into the culture and economy of Southwest Washington, it is necessary to consider the role of higher education in the United States.

That role does not have universal support; in fact, it is facing what could be considered an unprecedented attack. A poll last year from Pew Research Center found that a majority of Americans who identify as Republicans said colleges and universities have a negative effect on the country. In 2010, polling found that 58 percent of Republicans believed colleges have a positive impact; by last year, 58 percent said that impact was negative. Among Democrats, those who said colleges are beneficial grew from 65 percent in 2010 to 72 percent in 2017.

As David A. Graham wrote for The Atlantic last July: “Conservative media has focused heavily on campus protests, free-speech clashes, and debates over (for example) whether offering ethnic food in dining halls constitutes cultural appropriation.” Indeed, colleges have become a focal point of this nation’s culture wars and, in the process, have become a frequent punching bag for dogma-driven politicization.

But thinking of universities as having a negative impact upon the nation is an absurd rejection of education, threatening one of this nation’s greatest strengths. Following World War II, increased access to higher education (largely through the G.I. Bill) was essential to building the American middle class and establishing the 20th century as The American Century. Strong universities, both public and private, have made the United States worldwide leaders in learning that attract students from around the globe. And research at U.S. colleges has led to countless innovations that impact our lives on a daily basis — in a positive way.

Those contributions are evident on a global scale as well as a local scale. This is demonstrated by Washington State University Vancouver.

Founded in 1989, the branch campus has played a significant role in Southwest Washington. As the only four-year institution in the region, it provides affordable education opportunities for local students who otherwise would leave the area — often never to return. University officials estimate that of about 14,000 WSUV graduates, 58 percent live in Clark County and 95 percent live in the metro area. In 1990, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 16.8 percent of Clark County residents had at least a bachelor’s degree; now that number is about 28 percent.

Not all of that can be attributed to WSUV, but the presence of a four-year school has vast benefits. Having an educated populace helps attract employers who, in turn, draw other well-educated workers to the region. That is essential to a robust economy. As a 2004 study from Claremont Graduate University found, “It is clear that even small campuses can play a very strong economic role in their hometown.”

Rejecting the notion that higher education is essential to a growing economy and to human advancement is a dangerous school of thought. So, too, is disproportionate attention to the social discussions taking place on campuses rather than the learning. There is no question that colleges and universities have a positive influence and contribute to the nation’s prosperity, particularly at a time when an increasing percentage of jobs require a degree.

Locally, Washington State University Vancouver has demonstrated that impact — and Clark County has benefited from it.