The development of a Berkshire Higher Education Passport – a plan to help improve access to a college education – led to activities such as a visit to MCLA in December by North Adams third-grade students. Their day at the College included a hands-on physics lesson from Adrienne Wootters, some chemistry experiments by Rob Harris, an introduction to some of the aquatic creatures in Anne Goodwin and Ann Billetz’s biology lab, and a behind-the-scenes look at the Fine and Performing Arts Department from Dawn Shamberger and Lauren O’Neal.
For Berkshire County, that old saying neatly sums up the transition we are currently experiencing. These are exciting times, because as the door has begun to close on old-line manufacturing jobs, ones of opportunity have begun to open in vibrant new employment sectors that promise to nurture new generations. Of course that transition will not be easy, but it is nothing Americans have not confronted and overcome before.
Thomas Friedman in his new book, The World is Flat, reminds us that a century ago the United States faced a similar challenge, and made a transition from an agricultural based economy to an industrial based one. The result was not only a higher standard of living for the vast majority of Americans, but the beginning of a new economy that was and is the envy of the world. His book raises and answers the question, "How did we do it?" The Berkshire Compact for Higher Education has raised-and begun to answer-the question, "How can the Berkshires do it?" A brief look at how we got where we are is instructive. Historically dominated by large manufacturing companies providing an important source of well paying jobs, the economic base of Berkshire County has experienced a dramatic shift. As with so many "company towns," the health of the County's economy had been dependent primarily upon these industries. Families had access to steady, generational career paths where advancement and new opportunities could be realized through seniority and on-the-job training.
This is no longer the case-but take a look through the new doors that have opened. Innovative and inventive small- to mid-size technology, specialty manufacturing, and healthcare businesses, to name just a few, are driving and transforming the new economy. Making this business environment even more unique and productive is the rapid expansion of the Berkshire's traditionally rich cultural landscape. Berkshire County's reputation as a premier cultural venue is driving jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities, and is also one of our greatest assets in attracting new businesses and residents. It is a "one-two punch" not many local economies can match.
But how do we attract new employers and retain the ones we have to realize our vast potential?
A hundred years ago, as Mr. Friedman explains, the answer was at once bold and simple-Americans decided that everyone would have a secondary education. Now, as the Berkshires make the transition into the twenty-first century, there is little doubt that it is time for another bold, far reaching vision. This emerging, increasingly collaborative economy calls for skills and educational levels different from those of earlier times. Businesses compete in a global arena, and workers must be able to think critically and adapt to changing situations and rapidly changing technologies. As Friedman puts it, "Everyone should have a chance to be educated beyond high school." (290) While we have made strides toward attaining that vision, there is still work to do.
A report entitled, The Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, notes that across the nation "universities have done a wonderful job educating affluent kids since 1980. But they have done a terrible job of including those from the bottom half of the family income distribution." In Massachusetts and in Berkshire County, there are similar problems; access to higher education can pose a financial burden for many resulting in too many residents lacking skills to compete, and too many employers looking elsewhere to fill job openings.
The Berkshire Compact for Higher Education was established to assess these and other problems and focus upon what this community must do educationally to transition successfully to this new century, to this new economy. We are convinced that our success is rooted in a strong educational continuum that encourages and rewards innovation, raises aspirations, ensures access, values lifelong learning, and takes advantage of the power of technology.
The Compact has reviewed the challenges, opportunities, and barriers that we face. We have used new and existing research to arrive at our conclusions; most importantly, we have identified four major goals whose achievement will ensure a bright and promising future for Berkshire County. Our hope is that the new doors of opportunity will be opened, or widened through these efforts.
GOAL ONE: Raise the aspirations of all Berkshire County residents to view 16 years of education, or greater, as the accepted educational norm.
We found that far too many county residents believe the attainment of a high school diploma to be their ultimate educational goal. Aspirations must change and be elevated. To achieve this goal we must:
GOAL TWO: Improve access to education, training, and lifelong learning.
We found that there are many barriers-both real and perceived-to accessing education and training programs; among those barriers are transportation and childcare, cost and convenience, government/programmatic rules and regulations, as well as relevance to professional advancement or personal growth. We can begin to dismantle these barriers by:
GOAL THREE: Make Berkshire County a competitive location for the new technology and knowledge-based economy; make Berkshire County residents among the most technologically educated population in New England.
Berkshire County can distinguish itself in the new economy by developing a population skilled in the integration and application of technology and, in so doing, become a competitive location for technology-based economic sectors and companies. We begin this by addressing the following:
GOAL FOUR: Develop a new "social contract` among employers, employees, and educational institutions that encourages and promotes learning, earning, and civic engagement.
As the demographics across the county continue to change, the number one concern expressed by employers is access to a well-prepared, well-educated, innovative workforce. Berkshire County needs to think innovatively and boldly about integrating training and educational opportunities to meet the needs of employers and employees, including:
The road to success for Berkshire County travels through our educational institutions. There is no refuting that the more one learns, the more one earns, or that higher levels of education translate into higher levels of community participation, well-being, and self-sufficiency.
The Berkshire Compact supports the contention that to make progress we must invest in a strong educational continuum-one that encourages and rewards innovation, raises aspirations, ensures access, values lifelong learning, and takes advantage of the doors that can be opened, or widened, through the use of technology. To ensure our success, we have identified four primary goals and an array of strategies for realizing those goals.
These strategies, outlined in the report, are meant to sharpen our focus and to develop a shared understanding of challenges and opportunities. They serve to inform the important work that lies ahead as we find ways to meet our goals. The continued spirit of collaboration and creativity will serve the county well as we move forward.