Local college presidents discuss higher education
The annual panel discussion was hosted by the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce
TROY, N.Y. » Local leaders in higher education gathered to talk about shared challenges during an annual College Presidents Panel Discussion.
The event, held Thursday morning at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy, is hosted each spring by the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
This year, the conversation featured college presidents Dr. Christopher Ames of The Sage Colleges, Br. F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, of Siena College, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Dr. Roger A. Ramsammy of Hudson Valley Community College, Dr. Havidán Rodríguez of University at Albany, SUNY and Dr. Carolyn J. Stefanco of The College of Saint Rose. The panel was moderated by John Craig of WNYT-TV.
Topics covered in the discussion included current thinking on reforming legal immigration and the effect on foreign student enrollments, key factors that can disrupt the current education paradigm, student loans and a potential credit crisis due to large debt burdens relative to marketability of degrees, recent current events surrounding admission scandals, how each school is preparing students for the future workforce and the impact of higher education as
an economic driver in the greater Capital Region.
Each president spoke about their specific academic communities, and how individually, they face similar challenges.
One important issue throughout colleges around the nation involves students and their mental health.
“There is a real relationship between social media and the change in mental health and experience in young people,” Ames said, mentioning the increase in anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation among the nation’s college student population.
Panelists reported stress on the college’s counseling centers to serve the needs of students.
The college leaders spoke about investing in resources that can enhance students’ mental health and well-being, and shared techniques on combating mental illness on campus.
Among innovative ways to address the problem, Jackson said she sees opportunity in technology.
“Let’s use the very technologies that we know the students have grown up with, to try to reach them where they are,” she said. Through using gaming immersion and artificial intelligence, RPI is implementing technology in ways that are meant to help students better prepare for their futures.
RPI also has a program called CLASS (Clustered Learning, Advocacy, and Support for Students), which is a comprehensive student experience based on time and location-based clustering that offers students unique growth experiences. “The clustering is about how they live together and providing more built-in support and programming in that arena,” Jackson shared.
At The College of Saint Rose, a therapy dog presence, yoga classes and a designated area for afternoon naps are all efforts in improving student wellness.
Despite the obstacles that this and other challenges pose, “I think it’s a great year for higher education in the Capital Region generally,” Rodríguez said at the event.
Across the panel, the presidents reported successes such as new facilities, additional programs, and increased enrollment, as well as optimism for the future.