Give to YSU to bolster higher ed

Malcolm Gladwell, the author of non-fiction bestsellers such as “The Tipping Point,” “Outliers,” and “David and Goliath,” has also originated a podcast called “Revisionist History.” Three recent episodes examined topics related to higher education. One in particular, “My Little Hundred Million,” is particularly relevant to Youngstown State University as it begins a new academic year.

The podcast recounts the story of Hank Rowan, a successful New Jersey industrialist, who donated $100 million to what was then Glassboro State University, a regional university in southern New Jersey. In gratitude, Glassboro State was renamed Rowan University.

Rare gift

This gift was unusual for two reasons. First, Rowan, a graduate of MIT, had no connections to Glassboro, other than proximity. Second, gifts of such magnitude to such universities are rare, if not unprecedented. Most philanthropists donate such sums to elite, prestige, and/or large and prominent institutions.

What was Rowan’s motivation? He intuitively understood that his gift to Rowan would have exponentially greater impact on the region, the university and its students than a similar gift to his alma mater, for instance. What’s another $100 million to a university with a multi-billion dollar endowment? Acting on this, he transformed Rowan in a way that was not possible had he followed the traditional path of university philanthropy.

There are several parallels between Rowan University and Youngstown State. Both primarily serve their regional populations. Both have student populations that are dominated by first generation college students that typically have limited higher education options due to economic and personal constraints. Finally, both operate down in the pecking order of universities in their state and as a result face significant budgetary challenges as they strive for excellence.

Gladwell’s key point is that the system of higher education as a whole is only as strong as the universities at the lowest levels. If we truly want to strengthen higher education we need to bolster the Youngstown States and Rowans rather than those universities at the top of the hierarchy. This point is important for three players in the future of the Mahoning Valley and Youngstown State.

First, the donor community should consider the possibility that a gift to Youngstown State will maximize the impact of their dollars much more than a gift to Ohio State, Miami, Notre Dame or similar university. The Andrews Wellness Center and Williamson Hall are testaments to the generosity of local philanthropists. They also validate Gladwell’s concept. Together these buildings have transformed academic and student life on the YSU campus in a way that would not be possible at the above universities. As Hank Rowan illustrates, one need not be connected to Youngstown State or even a resident of the Mahoning Valley to have such a transformative impact.

Second, while the state of Ohio purports to have a “system” of higher education, policies have long benefitted the older, larger and richer universities to the detriment of newer, urban universities such as YSU. The entire system would be strengthened if state support included factors such as the external resources, such as endowments available to institutions, the ability of its student population to afford tuition, and the direct impact of the university in its community.

Gladwell’s lesson

Finally, faculty at YSU should apply Gladwell’s lesson to their own work. To teach, guide, and develop YSU students not only adds more value to their lives and the lives of their families but has greater impact on the region and even society as a whole. Many faculty understand this, but many also look with envy at their colleagues who work at elite universities. They shouldn’t.

YSU continues to grow and develop. As it moves forward, the community, the state, and its faculty and staff should remember how important, honorable, and worthy its historic mission is.

Dr. Tom Maraffa is professor emeritus of geography at Youngstown State University.