Sidney A. McPhee
- Sidney A. McPhee has served as president of Middle Tennessee State University since 2001.
Author Mark Twain once famously said that newspaper reports about his death had been greatly exaggerated.
Today, the same could be said of recent headlines questioning the value of a four-year college degree.
- “Americans are losing faith in the value of universities.” – new york times (September 5, 2023)
- “Is university worth going to?” – forbes (January 24, 2024)
- “Gen Z doesn't value higher education. Colleges should be in a panic.” – business insider (December 23, 2023)
more:More and more Americans are feeling dissatisfied.Higher education provides the solution
Here are some facts about the state of higher education
Sensational headlines like this capture the public's attention. But do they really reflect the truth about higher education?
I'm afraid not. And here are some facts to support my claim.
These statistics also fail to mention the statistically measurable social and health benefits of a four-year degree.
Why Tennessee's public university presidents signed on to 'For the Future'
Now in my 23rd year as president of Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, I have personally watched the journey of tens of thousands of students, from wide-eyed freshmen to ready-to-work graduates.
I also explore how earning a bachelor's degree improves the life trajectory of not only the bachelor's degree recipient, but also his or her family, resulting in economic, social, and health benefits that span generations. It was long enough for me to see it for myself.
MTSU recently joined forces with nine other state universities to launch a campaign to increase public awareness about the value of a four-year college degree earned at Tennessee's public universities. The message of the “Four the Future” campaign is that a four-year degree is not just good for prospective students, it's good for all Tennesseans.
Public universities educate students in fields of need in Tennessee, such as nurses, doctors, engineers, educators, and other professionals (Association of Public and Land-grant Universities). Meanwhile, more than 70% of Tennessee business leaders agree that there is an insufficient supply of properly trained workers (Boyd Center).
Here's why MTSU is participating in this campaign:
Help MTSU lead this awareness campaign because MTSU is Tennessee's university in many ways, offering life-changing opportunities to a student body that best reflects the diversity of Tennessee's population. It is appropriate to do so.
MTSU is not only the #1 choice for undergraduate students in Greater Nashville, but also a strong choice for adult learners, military students, and first-generation college students.
More than 70 percent of graduates remain in Tennessee, building the state's economy and communities. Next time you meet one of them, I encourage you to ask them about the value of their MTSU degree in their life. And in their communities too.
Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU's president since 2001, received her bachelor's degree from Prairie View A&M University in Texas. He received his master's degree from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. He holds a PhD in Applied Behavioral Research in Education from Oklahoma State University.
