by Dr. Drew A. Bennett, Chancellor
Missouri State University-West Plains

The following op-ed article was originally published in the Springfield News-Leader Oct. 26, 2007.

In September, I wrote a book review for the News-Leader regarding Elizabeth Wissner-Gross’ “What High Schools Don’t Tell You.” Most of this book focused on elite summer programs and highlighted which ones parents should send their kids to for the purpose of making their child “irresistible” on their college applications. Because only 50-60 percent of graduating high school seniors in some areas of the Ozarks attend any college or vocational school after graduation (the state average is 69 percent), we don’t need to make them irresistible to college, we need to make college irresistible to them.

I suggested in my review that, instead of a book titled “What High Schools Don’t Tell You,” we needed a book for all citizens titled “What WE Should Be Telling Our High School Students.” Instead of providing “secrets” on how to get into Ivy League schools, these are the things we should tell students in this region who do not plan to go to college.

College is affordable. Although many families struggle to make ends meet, there are ways to pay for college. For those families who qualify due to low income, federal Pell grants provide enormous assistance. Additionally, students who qualify for the Missouri A+ program, by earning a 2.5 grade point average and meeting attendance and public service requirements at participating high schools, may attend a public, two-year college in Missouri tuition free. State colleges and local communities want to assist students. For example, Missouri State University-West Plains, an A+ institution, annually provides $5.5 million through numerous scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs. As a result, 85 percent of degree-seeking students at Missouri State-West Plains receive some form of financial aid. The West Plains Campus also offers tuition at $102 per credit hour – or under $3,400 a year for two full semesters of 15 credit hours each.

College is achievable. College students don’t have to “eat the elephant” all at one sitting. Even those who are not able to go full time or don’t meet the admission standards of many four-year colleges and universities can go to college. Students can start out part time at an open-admission, two-year college even if they have low ACT scores and require developmental classes to get them ready for freshman level math, English or reading. Generally, classes at two-year colleges are smaller and are taught by fully qualified faculty with appropriate degrees in their field. One-on-one attention and a supportive learning environment characterize the atmosphere at these institutions. The university where I serve provides unlimited free tutoring and academic counseling for every student.

College is appropriate. Every dollar and hour spent on education provides one of the best returns on investment possible. Those with a two-year degree earn 20-30 percent more than those with just a high school diploma; those with a four-year degree generally earn a million dollars more in their lifetime. Many are surprised to learn that actor/director Clint Eastwood, filmmaker George Lucas, business tycoon and presidential candidate Ross Perot, St. Louis Cardinals baseball star, Albert Pujols, and the first female space shuttle astronaut, Eileen Collins, all started at two-year schools. Alumni of two-year schools in the Ozarks include doctors, lawyers, ministers, pharmacists, nurses, teachers and business owners. They include people who have put their associate’s degree to immediate use in the marketplace, as well as those who went on to earn bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Teachers, counselors and college recruiters are trying to encourage high school students to graduate and enroll in college, but they need our help. Ask a high school senior what he or she is doing after graduation. If you receive “I don’t know” as an answer, spend some time explaining that college is affordable, achievable and appropriate. After all, the Ozarks is just as good a place as any to search for the cure for cancer or the answer to the energy crisis. You might be the one who changes someone’s life and makes the world a better place.