The University of Southern Delaware?
Mar 18th, 2008 by Dave
Guest Post by Randy Nelson and Walt Lydic of Ocean View.
It’s the classic chicken and egg argument: what comes first, high-paying jobs or an educated, skilled workforce? It’s a riddle that Delaware politicians, educators and business leaders have been unable to solve as they struggle to bring new enterprise to the state. The problem is compounded in Sussex County by a lack of affordable housing, high land prices and transportation issues that keep new businesses from making a commitment to moving to Delaware.
Then consider Delaware’s changing demographics. Over 134,000 Delawareans are over the age of 65. The fastest growing population in the state is over 70. Delaware has the highest percentage of seniors over 80 on the east coast, including Florida. Most of that senior influx is occurring in Sussex County, and with that senior growth will come enormous challenges, both economic and social.
The graying of Delmarva – and of the country - will require hundreds of thousands of jobs in the medical and health community. Already, the country is facing daunting shortages in elderly care, physical therapy, nurses, nuclear technicians and pharmacists. Both the American Medical Association and AARP have sounded the alarm about the impending medical crisis facing the country. And it’s not what you think. While health insurance coverage is surely one of the issues facing us, insuring all Americans won’t matter much if we don’t have the medical facilities and the personnel to care for our aging population.
So how do you educate our young people and give them the skills that will to serve the future needs of the people of Delaware? One idea might be to transform Del Tech from a two-year commuter college to a four-year destination university focusing on health and medical issues. This transformation would provide the kind of education and high paying jobs that might solve both of our problems. And it would be a tremendous economic stimulus to a state losing tax dollars and jobs.
A first class university, complete with new learning facilities, dormitories and affordable housing for teachers, administrators and graduates could be a blueprint for the county and state’s long-term economic growth while addressing one of its most significant challenges. With a booming senior population and an educated work force, the medical industry will follow.
Professional occupations usually require at least a bachelor’s degree in a specialized field in a specific health area. That would be at least one of the stated purposes of this new academic institution.
The number of medical professionals needed throughout the United States over the next 20 years is staggering. Over one million nurses will be needed. Additionally, over 100,000 pharmacists, nearly 250,000 physical therapists and approximately 153,000 nuclear technicians will need to be hired to fill the void as the baby boomer generation reaches retirement. That’s a lot of jobs and a lot of educating.
So how do you pay for a new university, as a centerpiece of economic growth that addresses our future medical needs? With the real estate market in shambles, the state’s share of transfer tax dollars has slowed to a trickle, revealing the risk of basing government revenue on a market that fluctuates. Income tax revenue is declining and is projected to continue its downward trend. The federal government may take over the corporate tax fees the state has been reaping for decades, furthering depleting the state’s source of revenue. The math doesn’t look good. And that was before the recession.
Taxes are never popular. But what will be more unpopular is a society that hasn’t planned for its future medical needs and a state that won’t be able to care for its elderly or attract the types of professionals that can. More unpopular will be a state that continues on an educational policy that just hasn’t worked. More unpopular will be a government that can’t attract jobs, but likes talking about it.
Currently, Del Tech is proposing a 0.28 percent increase in the real estate transfer tax to fund expansion. And while this fee does not add a tax to current residents, basing revenue on the transfer tax is risky business.
The state could consider raising property taxes to pay for expansion. Delaware ranks 47th in the nation in property tax rates and most states use property taxes to fund education. It could be one of many small increases to fund the new university.
Another idea might be reassessment. The state has not reassessed property values since 1974. While no one seems to know exactly how much money would be raised by reassessment, it will certainly raise funds that could be earmarked for higher education.
It will be controversial, but maybe an alcohol sin tax could foot the bill. Let’s face it, in Sussex County we have two primary industries – real estate/development and tourism. Millions of people come to the shore for our beaches and bars. A five to 20 cent tax on every alcoholic beverage sold in the state would raise millions of dollars.
So far, Del Tech has refused to consider raising tuitions, particularly with the majority of enrolled students coming from the immediate area. That’s understandable and commendable considering the skyrocketing cost of education. But it’s also unrealistic. Any expansion must include some tuition increase that fairly charges students for the education they receive and the future income they will receive for that education.
Another approach is to examine how other universities around the country have combined education and medical facilities on their campus. George Washington, UCLA and Florida have successfully broadened their educational and medical facilities in partnership with business and the medical community. They have successfully expanded their university by sharing the cost of building these new facilities with businesses desperate to educate a new work force.
Medical companies have been some of the biggest providers of financial assistance to higher education programs, especially over the last decade. It makes sense. They need the work force. These partnerships have resulted in research centers and in-training hospitals on college campuses around the country. These partnerships have resulted in higher learning, better medical care and economic revitalization.
The state has other options to help the project along, including making available for free some of the land purchased for open space to the new university to make it more attractive for major businesses to consider spending millions of dollars to locate a medical facility that works with the university in delivering care. The county could change zoning laws to allow high-rise dormitories that would provide income to the new university. Zoning laws within the campuses direct radius could be changed to allow for high-rise condominiums for our new work force to live. Rather than sell the recent gift of 954 acres, Del Tech may want to consider using that land for expanding the university.
Finally, grants from the U.S. government for higher education, particularly medical, have been on the rise and could help supplement funding.
Think it can’t be done in rural Delaware? Consider that many universities started in rural communities and built thriving economies around them. Penn State, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Mississippi State are just a few examples of academic institutions that used education as an economic model for growth while simultaneously providing their communities with skilled workers.
There are other educational possibilities for this new university as well. An energy department could lead the nation in developing new technology, focusing on wind, solar, tidal, nuclear and other forms of energy development. The university could even be built “green” with solar panels and wind generated energy (assuming its okay with Delmarva Power). This new university may also want to consider another area of higher education a few institutions are just beginning to tackle: An Intelligence and National Security program. Courses of study could include emergency planning and security measures, domestic terrorism, mass casualty management planning, cyber crime, terror risk assessment, post terror investigation techniques and foreign languages like Arabic, Chinese and Spanish. The same types of business partnerships that could work for a new medical facility could also work for this kind of expansion as well. The Department of Homeland Security is currently issuing grants for this very kind of educational endeavor.
It should be noted that Del Tech has already made a commitment to overhauling the types of education it provides with an emphasis on nursing and other health related fields of study. No doubt, more changes are coming to the educational curriculum at Del Tech as Sussex County becomes less of an agricultural market. Taking the next step to a four year university while structuring the curriculum to match the nation’s changing demographics and future needs could place it as the centerpiece of the state’s future economic development while addressing some of our most pressing local and national issues.
Perhaps the state’s leaders, in conjunction with the University of Delaware, Del Tech and Beebe Medical Center, could begin to plans to address some of the state’s most pressing future issues by examining new ideas.
By Randy Nelson and Walt Lydic
Ocean View, Delaware.
It seems like a great place to set up a University Hospital, where students can be trained hands on. Especially those who will specialize in geriatric medicine, and similar fields.
Also, while I think that Del Tech should retain an Associate’s Degree program, I would love to see it expand some of its high demand majors into four year programs.
So why not build DSU into a full-fledged university?
“So why not build DSU into a full-fledged university?”
Their professors are too libertarian. It would never work.
Del tech already offers an associate degree nursing program at an affordable price. Why would anyone want to commit the extra time and money to obtain a higher degree to work at a blue collar job?
Meatball is right. There is very little incentive for nurses to get a 4-year nursing degree over a 2-year. There is usually no pay differential for RNs with a 4-year degree.
Does anyone have contact information for either Mr. Lydic or Mr. Nelson. I do think they are pitching a much bigger idea than nurses.
It’s about time someone proposed a educational campus in this area. I grew up in a college town. We had development jobs, teaching careers, education, research centers and a hospital right on campus. I got my dental work done there. It gave people the training for real jobs. Most of the jobs around here are service sector. It’s no wonder our young people don’t stay. All you ever hear is we need good jobs. But no one does anything about it.
re: meatball’s comments = I do not think most skilled, hard working & caring nurses would appreciate your denigrating comment referring to them as “blue collar” workers. Hope you don’t need their professional help any time soon. Also, you are foolishly narrowing this important topic into a ‘one-liner’ theory. The expansion to a 4 year university can only help our state move forward in the education of our youth & ultimately expand our employment base.
I am a nurse.
What’s denigrating about being a blue collar worker?
Randy and Walt, great idea! May I steal it?
Definitely some viable stuff here. Sounds to me like Randy Nelson is getting ready to run for office-38th District Rep seat. Standard move in politics is to identify the problems and bounce off some solutions. I think he’s going to do it. The Dems are begging him to run.
This sounds like a great idea. With Georgetown building up, and traffic getting worse, hospital access times in emergencies are getting longer. Supplementing Del tech into maybe a teaching hospital will solve two problems.
It may be too lofty a goal. I would think that working with the existing hospitals in the area, Nanticoke and Beebe, and allow them to grow while maintaining Georgetown as the educational nerve center will be the most economical solution. It will also give the existing hospitals incentive to be more financially involved with the development of their future employees.
I agree that building up DelTech (or getting UD or DSU build campuses in Georgetown) is an option that is definitely needed in this area. After you have finished DelTech’s two year option, you’re forced to pay out of state tuition at Salisbury Univ or drive/move up to UD, if not moving out of state.
Jud -
I would have to agree it sounds like Mr. Nelson is going to run for office. Why the 38th though? This is one of the more innovative ideas I’ve ever seen. By Delaware standards, it’s presidential material. His support of the wind farm was essential to its popular support. I’ve lived here my whole life, and no one had a better grasp of the issues or provided more information than Mr. nelson when he was on the radio. It seems to me someone should be grooming him for higher office, maybe U.S. Congress or the Senate.
Dave, thanks for posting our proposal but for a bit of clarification, this idea was never about nurses, or engineers, Democrats or Republicans or any other identity.
It was always about economics in Sussex County. Education AS AN Industry was the idea with all the economic and social benefit it would bring and the moral obligation to our citizens that it would fulfill.
Wow.
Do not worry, Exxon Mobile has a free market solution to our oil problems….
http://delawarelibertarian.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-biofuels-done-wrong-way-ruin-world.html
It will be controversial, but maybe an alcohol sin tax could foot the bill.
“Hey guys, let’s go hit Dewey and “pay our tuishon.”
Jud. Thanks for the kind words.
Karen. If you ask to steal something, it’s not stealing. So yes, we would love it if some of our political candidates “borrowed” our idea.
Pete: One step at a time.
My Two Cents: You can reach us at either randy@kaylorkent.com or walt@kaylorkent.com. Office number is 302-539-9120
Great idea.
Regarding a “sin” tax on alcohol. Make it progressive. No tax on cheap wine and beer. Start with the high priced stuff.
Speaking of sin tax, why not get revolutionary? Marijuana is a big seller in Delaware. Put it in the liquor stores, pharmacies, and tax it. It’s a cheap, easy crop to grow. Why let the gangsters cash in, while we pay the bill for police work? We could tax it $50 an ounce and finance a big part of the budget shortfall. It’s a win win. Not only do we get a solid revenue source, we also save big bucks on police work, lawyers, and prison cells. Regulated sales of marijuana would go a long way towards reducing the use of the more hazardous substances like heroin and cocaine, not to mention putting a dent in the black market gangster and gun culture prohibition creates.
All it takes is a reality check. It’s there. It’s happening. Let’s deal with it. Highly regulated legalization fulfills a conservative concept of trusting the individual. I trust most people do not want to become idiots by over indulging in any of our many sins. If the world starts to disintegrate because of legalization, we can always go back to where we are today.
This is going to be an AWESOME party school you guys are building!
Noman: Duuuuuuuuudddddeeee! (sssnnicker….ssshhhnicker….*cough* *cough*)
This thread is becoming like the kids’ game, Pass It On.
If you are looking for a university president for this booze-and-pot funded school - I hear John Atkins is available. Really - us Dems will reluctantly release him from his campaign obligations.
Seriously, as much as I like the idea of a downstate university, there is not much justification for it.
If you want a full-service university with health care as its main driver, for every dollar you invest in the school you need to invest two or three into hospitals. The hospitals would need to be built out as educational institutions, beyond their basic duty to serve the public.
Not only that, hospitals and universities of that size need to be planned and funded on a regional scale. Maryland might have something to say about the plans.
Despite the projected growth of the senior demographic, Sussex doesn’t have nearly the population to support hospitals and schools on that scale. And I hate to say it, but most of the growth in need for seniors is for nursing home aides, not degreed professionals.
There might be some funding from pharma and other life sciences companies for the medical portion of a university, but to establish a university you also have to establish a full liberal arts and sciences curriculum.
So in the absence of massive investment in the hospitals, the best bet would be to build out DelTech, primarily in the nursing and medical technician fields. Even then, most graduates would have to leave Delaware to find work, unless we invest in the machines for the technicians to run, or hospitals and other facilities for the nurses to work in.
noman, a few points to consider:
You write: If you want a full-service university with health care as its main driver, for every dollar you invest in the school you need to invest two or three into hospitals. The hospitals would need to be built out as educational institutions, beyond their basic duty to serve the public.
All across the country, hospitals and Universities are doing just that, investing in expansion together. In fact, that’s one way they are now serving the public, in joint ventures. it makes sense.
You write: Despite the projected growth of the senior demographic, Sussex doesn’t have nearly the population to support hospitals and schools on that scale.
The senior demographic is not limited solely to Sussex County, though the state’s growth in that population demo is astounding. The aging of America is nationwide. The demand for hospitals and educated medical professionals will be one of the biggest challenges facing the nation. Turning Del Tech into a University will bring students and educators from around the mid-atlantic region, not just Sussex County.
You write: And I hate to say it, but most of the growth in need for seniors is for nursing home aides, not degreed professionals.
Nonsense. The problems is a lack of degreed professionals.
You write: Not only that, hospitals and universities of that size need to be planned and funded on a regional scale. Maryland might have something to say about the plans.
Good. Maybe our next governor can get on that.
Mr. Nelson,
Nice counter. Some people would rather criticize than offer solutions. Think about it. That’s why this county is in the position it is. No high paying jobs, young adults who can’t afford to live here, no real educational opportunities, no real future. Lots of talk, no action. People can’t see 10 or 20 years down the road. They can barely see tomorrow. Unfortuanately, we’re destined for people and our elected officials to just keep things the way they are. It’s easier that way.
Speaking of Mr. Nelson, does anyone know why WGMD is blocking comments on Gerald Hocker’s blog opposing the wind farm? Isn’t Mr. Hocker an advertiser on GMD? Something smells fishy.
Personally, I can’t think of a better idea to keep our young people from getting their education and moving away. They could get their education here and stay here. This would increase jobs in the medical field as well as the education field.
We should be thinking on this size scale. Big ideas, big results. Small ideas, small results.
Interestingly, both of our esteemed gubernatorial candidates are strongly proposing that we must strengthen the educational base in both our elementary and high school systems. This is long overdue & necessary for the benefit of all Delawarians. However, what is missing in this grand plan is, ‘What happens after High School Graduation Celebrations?’ Shall we then proudly wave good-bye as our young people, now well educated & prepared for advanced degrees, leave the area to attend college. Does anyone think that they will be returning to Sussex County to seek employment as _ _ _ _ ??? Hmmmmmm…. Unfortunately, we are creating a viscious cycle by continuing to believe that we are still merely a rural community - a ‘nice’ thought, but the census data no longer backs this notion. Perhaps it is time for us to look to the future & take “one small step for mankind…”
“So how do you educate our young people and give them the skills that will to serve the future needs of the people of Delaware? ”
Bartending school?
I loved the dig at Delmarva Power. That was cute. It seems to me these men are proposing education as a business model. Think of all the jobs it would creat to build a major University. Think of all the businesses that would follow. This would be a perfect place for a college environment. But we could just sit on our ass and talk about education and jobs, jobs and education, education and HIGH-PAYING jobs…blah, blah, blah, talk, talk, talk, blah, balh, blah. Some vision from some year say 2025 and a task force. Yeah. A task force. That will do it.
I’m usually with you Randy, but I really don’t get this….
Education and education jobs are great, but in the end we all just end up educating each other. It’s no differeent than opening a laundry school so we can all make money doing each other’s laundry.
Noman is right. A nursing home nurse (usually an LPN instead of an RN) manages the care of between 15-25 patients. So you need four to six to cover an 8 hour shift in a 100 bed facility. In contrast,
a low skilled, low paid, but dedicated CNA who can be trained in about 16 weeks, cares for 5 to 7 patients in an 8 hour shift.
Additionally, nursing school enrollment continues to decline causing the median age of practicing nurses to rise and workloads on individual nurses to increase. Price controls on health insurace, or worse, government run healthcare, would cause labor (read nurses) to pick up even more of the work load(foring poorer delivery of care) for frozen or declining wages. I wonder why no one wants to become a nurse?
I know a local university would create all kinds of other great jobs like pizza makers, custodians, campus police, tanning bed operators and the like. These are jobs we already have to import kids from overseas to fill.
Gone are the days when all one had to do was become degreed and then hang at the water coolerfor a reasonable salary.
Poor, Poor, Pitiful Meatball! Sooooo stuck on turning this wide-ranging topic into a woebegone saga of the Nursing Profession. Hey! IT AIN’T ALL ABOUT NURSES! You are trivializing and narrowing the subject matter with your negativity. PLEEEZZZ! Re-read the above article. This time with a little more attention paid to the material. We are discussing IDEAS vastly more far-reaching than you have grasped. Put on your thinking cap and realize that this involves IDEAS for advancement for ALL Delawarians in education, economic growth and increased employment opportunitys. It is time for Delaware to enter the 21st century. …..or - You could just GET A LIFE!!!
Let’s see….
First two paragraghs…chicken or egg….lack of transportation….lack of affordable housing….graying of America…influx into Sussex…..
Next ten….medical…nursing…medical….nursing
12&13…more alcohol tax….TAX MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR THE MONEY THEY WILL MAKE LATTER ON (now that’s really smart, Randy. That ought to have ‘em lining up in droves)
next two…. university/medical facility…need the work force…training hospital
last three…homeland security…foreign language….energy…emphasis on nursing and healthcare….
Oh, now I see Randy wants to build a school of homeland security.
My Goodness, Mr. MeatBall. Your indepth analysis of this subject is so definitively astute that I do believe that you must have graduated from a REAL University!!! HO! HO! HO! P.S. - My tongue in cheek is soooo aching! I’m afraid I may need a Nurse!!! Wake up, Dorothy - aka/meatball! We’re not in Kansas anymore!
Randy & Walt have come up with quite a Golden Idea. Every College town has a built in population, especially during the Fall/Winter months, when our local businesses are hurting.The students & faculty will need housing, restaurants, everything from dry cleaners to household supplys. This could be a Godsend to boost our economy year round. Way to go , guys! Now let’s see some concrete effort put into making this thing happen.
As one of Sussex County’s over the hill citizens, I would be grateful to see such an advantagous enterprise enacted. It would solve so many of our local problems, both financial & employment wise. Very heartened to see someone else is concerned about our rather stagnant development situation. I certainly hope that you fellows will proceed with getting this venture off the ground. Thank you.
Well you sure got my attention with this idea of yours.A real mind-blower of a new way of thinking about the present & future needs of our fair State. But please don’t let the vastness of such a huge project prevent you from seriously looking into the possibility of seeing this through. It is the first really positive suggestion I have heard regarding meeting the needs of the people of Del. before we lose the ability to protect our future.
Wow! What exciting ideas you gentlemen have come up with. Hope I am able to see you be successful in putting them into reality, the sooner the better. Our economy is in dire need of a boost. This seems positively hopeful for the near future as well as far into the future of our grandchildren.
I still don’t see where the “good jobs” are coming from in this plan for a “hippy shining city on the shore.” A couple hundred professorships, some secretarial jobs, and a whole lot of part time waitresses and full time spanish kitchen help.
It does nothing to benefit or attract young families to the area. It does nothing to encourage our current local crop of youth to stay in this area. A high rise condo for those with low paying jobs…. maybe we could call it Cabrini Green.
How does this “project” generate good paying jobs for up-an-commers in Delaware?
There is no doubt a full-scale university would generate lots of good jobs. But the question is whether there is enough need for this university to attract the required funding.
As a side benefit, Sussex politics would turn blue forever. And the university would have one helluva department of Gay and Lesbian Studies.
There are economic opportunities in Sussex other than education. For example, Maryland has recently passed a tax on computer services. It would be a lot easier to attract some major computer services firms away from the DC suburbs than to build a university from scratch.
F.Y.I. - “Lifetime Earnings Soars With Education”. According to a recent study by the Commerce Department Census Bureau, the projected earnings of an American worker are directly impacted by the level of education achieved. Examples: Based on a typical work life of ages 25 through age 64. High School Grads can expect to earn 1.2 million College Bachelor Degree = 2.1 million Master’s Degree = 2.5 million Doctoral Degree = 3.4 million Professional Degree = 4.4 million [ these include medical Drs., dentists, veterinarians,& lawyers ]
F.Y.I. - the govt. study broke those figures down into yearly earnings based on educational achievement. High School Grads = $25,900 College
F.Y.I. cont. - The govt. study also broke these figures down into expected yearly earnings based on educational level. For example: High School Grads = $25,900 College Grads = $45,400 and for those with Professional Degrees = $99,300
rads = $45,400 Professional Degrees = $99,300
OOPS! Sorry about that! The above message came out rather garbled. Guess I need to go back to school to hone up my typing skills. Let’s try this one more time…. This same govt. study further broke down the average yearly earnings an American worker will earn based on his/her educational level. High school grads = $25,900 College grads = $45,400 and Professional degree = $99,300
If having a first rate University in the area were such a negative idea, as ’some’ propose, then why are so many states & cities beating the bushes to develop them locally? Because they bring boatloads of $$$ into the area & the nearby vicinities thrive!
The suggestions for topics of study made by Mr. Nelson and Mr. Lydic are far from unrealistic. On the contrary, they are most timely, as well as mentioning specific courses so vitally needed in order to upgrade the current state of our Country’s educational system.
All major Universitys offer 3 or 4 core curriculum subjects as a means to attract a varied student body.Think Harvard with it’s world renowned Law, Business & Literary degrees. Maryland University offers an outstanding Engineering degree, as well as quite respected degrees in the fields of Education and Medical Research. Oregon State University is recognized as a leader in Forestry as well as Agriculture & Land Development.
Let’s not be too hasty in nay-saying these proposals. Only good can come to Delaware if this undertaking successfully proceeds. The economic and employment benifits alone make this a viable & highly valuable tool for us to consider.
Fantastic idea!
Go For It!!!
You guys are really on to something Big here. We younger generation of Delawareians would be so thrilled to see this idea enacted. PLUS - WE VOTE!
What a fine thing you are proposing. It would please me immensely to be able to send my brood to a local University. Why do we now have to send all those heavy tuition fees out of state when that money would be far better used in our own locale?
Think about this side benefit. We would be bringing ‘youth’ back into our population! And many of these students will stay after graduation & become permanent residents of Del. Particularly if the jobs are here.
That should help change the demographics of our “graying” society.
You’ve certainly gotten my attention with this one.
Seems like it could solve a multitude of problems.
Local businesses should be pounding on your door offering monetary backing as well as a cheering squad. Imagine the increase in their business - year round customers - a previously impossible wish come true.
And think how this could help our sagging real estate market. Unsold & empty houses/condos etc. would then have a huge amount of interest from both renters & buyers. Too bad you couldn’t have come up with this earlier. It might have allowed trapped sellers an alternative to selling too cheaply.
But, with this being an election year, maybe some politicians will see the value here & climb aboard.
We can talk this thing into the ground & accomplish nothing - or we can start throwing out some positive ideas on how to get this deed done. Do we want to act like the ‘Do-Nothing’ Politicians sitting in Washington waiting for someone else to start the ball rolling?
Let’s hear some valid suggestions from you successful business people out there. Many of you came up the hard way and know a thing or two about turning an idea into an actual reality.
We are ‘burnin’ daylight’, as John Wayne would say. So, can we possibly move on to the next stage & try to find a way to succeed in this new frontier? Our economy is not going to improve if we just “wait and see”….
You heard the man. Now let’s hear from you businessmen/women. Does anyone have the foggiest idea of how to begin to get this grand adventure started?
It may all seem a little overwhelming, but if we Americans can send a crew to outer space, then surely we do know something about generating new enterprise.
[…] March 18 - Nelson/Lydic propose “University of Southern Delaware” on DP.net. […]