Rutgers President Among Group Calling For Stronger Government Investment in Education

Rutgers University President Robert L. Barchi joined 164 other university presidents and chancellors in calling on President Barack Obama and Congress to make a stronger investment in education on Wednesday, the University announced.

Barchi was among a group that took out an ad in the Politico to close what they termed the “innovation gap,” which is reflective of the gap between actual investments and what is needed in the area of education. They say the federal government must make this a “national imperative.”

They say these types of investments lead to innovations and technologies that drive the nation’s economy, create jobs and reduce the budget deficit. They also ensure the nation’s position as a global leader at a time when other nations are steadily increasing investments in those areas, according to the University.

“Throughout our history, this nation has kept the promise of a better tomorrow to each generation,” Barchi and his colleagues wrote. “This has been possible because of our economic prosperity based in large part on America’s role as global innovation leader. Failing to deal with the innovation deficit will pass to future generations the burdens of lost leadership in innovation, economic decline, and limited job opportunities. We call upon you to reject unsound budget cuts and recommit to strong and sustained investments in research and education. Only then can we ensure that our nation’s promise of a better tomorrow endures.”

Barchi and his colleagues say economists support their view that over half the country’s innovations since World War II have been the result of federally-funded scientific research conducted at universities.

They pointed to advancements in life-saving vaccines, lasers, MRI, touchscreens, GPS and the Internet, among others. They also claim investments by China, Singapore and South Korea over the past two decades have resulted in those countries putting forth 2-4 times the amount of research and development the United States has in that same period.

Congress faces crucial budget decisions in the coming months, and Barchi and his colleagues want to make sure education remains a priority.

“Because the innovation deficit undermines economic growth it harms our nation’s overall fiscal health, worsening long-term budget deficits and debt,” Barchi and his colleagues wrote. “Investments in research and education are not inconsistent with long-term deficit reduction; they are vital to it.”

The 165 universities represented in the letter are all members of the Association of American Universities and/or theAssociation of Public and Land-grant Universities.  University of Anywhere is a member of both.