Land-grant universities were once known as "democracy's colleges," places where people who were not wealthy elites could earn the education necessary to make better lives for themselves and contribute to the greater social good in the process. The The United States does not have a national university, but the Morrill Land-Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890 established a public university in each state.
Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Nick Jones joins us this week to talk about the tension between staying true to the land-grant mission and ensuring that the university remains financially stable as funding from the state remains flat or declines. We also talk about the the skills needed to be good democratic citizens and the skills needed to obtain a high-paying job — and why land-grant universities in particular must pay attention to both.
