You may think these two visions have nothing to do with one another.

Unfortunately, they very much do. Because where states choose to invest is a clear statement of priorities. It’s a sad fact that as state tax revenues go down the legislature has cut the University of Nebraska’s operating budgets to lower and lower amounts, while simultaneously pouring money into industries such as – you guessed it – the prison system. Now I’m all for safety and justice and a solution to overcrowding but let’s think about this for a moment.

By continually slashing the budget for education, universities turn to raising tuition rates, putting even more undue pressure on students to shoulder the financial burden, which in turn leads to students dropping out altogether. It also means fewer incentives for great teachers and staff to stay in a system plagued by uncertainty that undervalues them at every turn. As budget cuts continue we risk losing our best faculty and students, our future thinkers and leaders to other states that invest wisely in their university systems.

Let’s look at how this plays out in another practical sense.

Nebraska has a problem with workforce shortage, which leaves companies shipping jobs out elsewhere. One solution? Shore up universities to ensure that we’re recruiting, educating, and releasing into the workforce a large cadre of excellently trained people who will grow and strengthen our industries and economy across the state. It’s pretty straightforward. But what’s the solution that the Governor and some lawmakers are currently pushing for? Give tax incentive packages to large companies to entice them to build here. Here’s why that doesn’t work: let’s say these companies come – they make plenty of profit, pay next to nothing in taxes to support the local infrastructure, and then after a couple years of skilled labor shortage, they jump ship and go elsewhere. How on earth is this a solution that benefits Nebraskans?

There are ways we can find additional resources to make up the funding gap, but we have to think creatively, we have to be bold. Public and private partnerships, entrepreneurship opportunities, even creating our own form of student loans that prioritize student need rather than bleeding them dry before they’ve even had a chance to succeed. Ultimately though we have to ask ourselves – what really matters to us, as Regents, as students and teachers, as Nebraskans?

Picture, if you will, a future for your children and grandchildren that fills you with hope and pride. Now tell me, is there any barbed wire in sight?

*Barbara’s thoughts as written by Kate based on weekly (fascinating) conversations.