Is there a link between the economic crisis and education? James Lintzenich said yes.
Lintzenich, who graduated from Ball State University in 1975 with a business degree and is now the CEO of the Lumina Foundation, addressed students at Teachers College and Miller College of Business Thursday afternoon about his answer to that question as part of the Miller College of Business Distinguished Speaker Series.
He said he believes there is definitely a correlation.
While the U.S. was once ranked No. 1 in the world for citizens with a college degree, its percentage has now leveled off at 39 percent, dropping the rank to No. 10, he said. Delaware County and the state of Indiana have a 31 percent rate of college attainment, placing the state 35th nationally, he said.
"This was the most surprising thing for me, to know that the U.S. has leveled off in their percentage of graduates compared to the rest of the world," senior Jeff Olson said.
Lintzenich said the national unemployment rate is higher for people without a college degree. The Lumina Foundation, of which Lintzenich is a founder and board member, focuses on college access and success and is working to enroll, retain and graduate more students, he said.
He said one solution could be found in the European Union, which is integrating "The Bologna Process" into its education system by addressing issues such as learning outcomes, competency and student workload.
"I feel that if we would look into this a little bit it could help our higher education conundrums here in the United States," Lintzenich said.
Lintzenich said education may be the key to getting out of the recession. He said two-thirds of the jobs identified in the stimulus bill require postsecondary education.
After the speech, students' questions pertained to the lack of initiative shown by their high school peers to start college.
The Lumina Foundation hopes to see college graduation rates in the United States rise from its current standing at 34 percent to 60 percent by 2025, Lintzenich said.
Lintzenich said the Lumina Group is working "at the grassroots level" on a project called "Know How to Go." The project targets students in 7th to 9th grades and offers information to them about making college a reality in the future, he said.
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