UT president: Higher ed changes 'long overdue'

FINDLAY — The University of Toledo's Interim President Matthew Schroeder delivered a speech at a Findlay Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday at the Findlay Country Club, speaking on the institution's role in supporting economic development, healthcare and workforce education in Northwest Ohio. Schroeder also addressed recent changes and challenges currently facing higher education. "Right now, higher education in the state of Ohio, some would say it's under attack. I would say, it's probably long overdue," Schroeder said. Schroeder began his speech addressing the challenges and national skepticism surrounding higher education, noting declining enrollment, political divisions and debates over the relevance of college degrees. He explained that UT has been realigning its academic offerings in response to these concerns, ensuring graduates leave with in-demand degrees. To achieve this, UT has been eliminating low-enrollment programs with poor job placement rates and is instead expanding on degrees related to high-demand fields such as engineering, healthcare, data science and technology. Strong ties to Findlay Schroeder emphasized the strong relationship the university has with Findlay and Hancock County, particularly in retaining graduates and recruitment. Many UT alumni are employed locally by organizations such as Blanchard Valley Health System and Marathon Petroleum Corporation. "Not only do we recruit a lot from the Greater Findlay, Hancock County area, but those students that graduate from the University of Toledo come back and they stay," Schroeder said. "Whether that's at Marathon, Cooper, Whirlpool, etc., they will put down roots in Findlay, Ohio. With the health science side, we recruit a lot of medical students, PAs, OTs, PTs, etc. Many of those individuals will stay in this part of the state." According to Schroeder, recent UT graduates earn between $65,000 and $85,000, securing careers in engineering, healthcare, law and business. "That's primarily driven by these in-demand jobs that are in engineering and other professional fields," Schroeder said. "To go out and get a job as a chemical engineer at Marathon, or a businessperson in the banking industry, these are sustainable jobs and career opportunities that will truly last a lifetime." Investing in workforce development In the past year, the university has eliminated several academic programs with low-demand and low-enrolled programs. The cuts are a part of the university's broader initiative to invest in workforce development, Schroeder said. "We eliminated 25 programs within the last month; we did 50 last year," Schroeder said. "We're doing that because those programs are either under-enrolled or not relevant. We are absolutely shaping our portfolio based on what businesses are telling us." The effort is supported through partnerships with state and federal programs including the Ohio Department of Development, JobsOhio, the CHIPS Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. The university is prioritizing expanding areas in STEMH, which includes science, technology, engineering, mathematics and healthcare. Healthcare in particular, is a key focus at UT. Schroeder emphasized the benefit of UT's Medical Center to Findlay and praised Blanchard Valley Health System as a great partner to the region's healthcare industry. "Another blessing of living in Findlay, Ohio is Blanchard Valley," Schroeder said. "What you guys have in your backyard is truly remarkable, and they are an exceptional health system, and I think the University of Toledo Health can compliment that all day, every day." Flexibility in education Schroeder highlighted the university designation as Ohio's first Innovation Hub and discussed new academic programs designed to meet students' growing needs. He noted that some eliminated programs and degrees, such as American Sign Language, will remain available as a minor or merged with similar degrees. He also said that the university is offering"stackable credentials," allowing students to start with an associate's degree or a certificate and build towards a bachelor's degree over time. Schroeder said the program offers great flexibility for those who wish to return to school later in life. "Not every employer needs somebody with a four-year degree," he said. "If you're getting a certificate or you're getting an associate's degree, with higher education, especially at Toledo, we're now making sure that those are stackable. As you invest time, life gets in the way, and you want to come back, you didn't waste two years at Owens (Community College), you didn't waste however many months or credit hours on a certificate. You can build upon that and get that bachelor's degree." AI in the classroom With AI rapidly evolving, UT is expanding its curriculum to teach students how to build and program artificial intelligence tools, not just use it, Schroeder said. "Anybody can go out and use AI in their everyday life, but to be able to build that, the machine learning piece, that is what we've been focusing on," Schroeder said. AI is also being used in UT's healthcare programs. Medical students and residents are being trained in Epic Systems, an electronic records health system that is in the stages of incorporating AI features to assist in diagnostics and administrative tasks. "It's our responsibility to make sure not only our current students, but our alumni of the universities can continue to sharpen those skills," Schroeder said. A campus destination An ongoing initiative at UT is increasing student engagement by becoming a "destination" spot. The university is creating new engagement opportunities for students and the community through concerts, camps, conferences and other special events. "Our obligation is to really tear down any barrier, get them on campus, allow them to experience things, especially K-12, so that they can see themselves at the University of Toledo," Schroeder said. A key part of this movement is the University's effort in repurposing the Glass Bowl stadium as a new regional entertainment hub. On May 24, UT will host the Zac Brown Band which will be the first major concert at the Glass Bowl since the Beach Boys in the 1990. "What we hope to do starting next year is multiple-day, event-type festivals," Schroeder said. "To not only open up that venue, but again, to get people on campus. I think that's critically important." Division 1 athletics Addressing the recent changes with college athletics, Schroeder acknowledged the new policy of compensating athletes. "In many ways, it is the right thing to do, given that we utilize their name, image, and likeness often," Schroeder said. UT's athletic budget is approximately $35 million; however, like most universities, its athletic program operates at a loss. Only about 10 schools nationwide generate a profit from their athletic program, Schroeder said. Investments will be prioritized based on each sport's revenue potential and its impact on enrollment. Football remains the top revenue generator at UT, but Schroeder also made note of the women's basketball team, which often outperforms the men's team in attendance and engagement.