Weathering the Storm — Challenges For
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Weathering the Storm – Challenges for PR’s Higher Education System Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, Ph.D., Heidie Calero, JD, Wanda Garcia, MSW, Matthew Closter MPA, MS, & Kiersten Westley-Henson, MA Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, economic disasters, bankruptcy, unmanageable government debt, and economic stagnation, present the opportunity for institutions of higher learning to assess their role as anchors of their communities (Crespo, Hlouskova & Obersteiner, 2008; Skidmore & Toya, 2002). Unfortunately, many of these institutions of higher learning are not prepared and aligned to deal with the devastation caused by widespread damage to flooded buildings, the financial impact caused by loss of tuition income, the significant disruptions on the lives of university students, faculty, and staff, In 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated outward migration, and the dysfunction of the Puerto Rico and shattered an already daily business of academia. struggling economy and the Island’s higher As one of the most diverse and education system (Meléndez & Hinojosa, accessible systems in the world, Higher 2017; Bonilla-Santiago, 2017). Hurricane Education performs an indispensable duty in Maria killed more than 90 people and caused the formation of future citizens, leaders, upwards of $100 Billion in damages in Puerto thinkers, and entrepreneurs; and plays a Rico. It also caused the loss of thousands of transformative role in community and crops as well as forced thousands to leave the economic development (Abel & Deitz, 2012). island, millions to lose their homes and many That was precisely the reason why then communities to be destroyed (Ferre, Sadurni, poor Government of Puerto Rico established Alvarez, & Robles, 2017). the University of Puerto Rico (state university) While the loss and devastation of a in 1903. After 114 years, hurricane Maria natural disaster is immediately unbearable reminds us that the higher learning sector in with its tremendous attack on human life and Puerto Rico must redefine its strategies and natural devastation, disasters offer an vision and reinvent itself to survive and to opportunity for reinvention, development and contribute to the future of the Island (Matos, innovation (Matos, 2017). 2017). How does Higher Education respond to After Hurricane Maria devastated the the challenges resulting from an Island of Puerto Rico in September 2017, the overwhelmingly massive Category Five discourse about the impact on Puerto Rico hurricane (Matos, 2017). categorized the aftermath as an economic disaster with serious implications for life and anchors, out migration of residents and prosperity. Disasters have the peculiarity of intellectual capital to the United States, and a exposing the vulnerabilities of a country, collapsing system of K-12 and higher especially when the devastation causes loss of education (Bosworth & Collins, 2006; Federal life, housing, energy and a collapse of Reserve Bank of New York, 2012). infrastructure (Cowen, 2014). After five The causes for the economic months since Hurricane Maria ravished the devastation of Puerto Rico are varied and Island, Puerto Rico is dealing with a reality influenced by elements of a political structure that has resurfaced the profound issues of that requires rethinking, an economic model poverty, inequality and outdated infrastructure that has hinged on borrowing to cover the (Melendez-Olivera, 2017). government expenditures, a culture of partisan However, devastation also brings a fanaticism that strangles innovation and political environment that, for a short window, responsibility, and a neglectful treatment of provides new conditions for economic and children and families. In June 2015, the social change (Cowen, 2014; Vallas & government of Puerto Rio announced the Pankovits, 2010). This is the case in Puerto Island would default on its public debt of $74 Rico where areas such as health reform, billion plus $49 billion in unfunded pension education, job training, housing liabilities. improvements, and restructuring of the In June 2016, US Congress appointed economic base are opportunities that demand an oversight board through the Puerto Rico an investment of public and private capital. Oversight, Management, and Economic Furthermore, the international Stability Act (PROMESA) to take over the attention, federal aid, private donations, and financial management of Puerto Rico and the work of Puerto Ricans that reside in the spearhead the process to regain fiscal United States in helping fellow Puerto Ricans sustainability. In the midst of these pre-Maria that remained on the island have generated circumstances, the impact of Hurricane Maria emergency capital that, if managed well, can intensified what was already a critical situation alleviate the immediate effects of the hurricane in Puerto Rico and placed the island in a and set the island on a new trajectory. (Ferre- survival mode. Sadurni, Alvarez, & Robles, 2017) A Higher Education strategy is Higher Education emerges as an paramount to forging a new economic model anchor with assets for a new industry for the Island that is progressive, equitable, The number of degrees conferred by sustainable and focused on common private higher education institutions in Puerto prosperity. What makes post-Hurricane Maria Rico has steadily grown since 2009, granting so devastating is that Puerto Rico was already more than half of total degrees in comparison going through one of its most challenging to the public higher education system. While economic times. The country struggled with the number of degrees remained virtually flat the impact of mounting government debt, from 2009 – 2011, there were minor increases bankruptcy, the exodus of private sector from 2001- 2016. For the 2016-2017 year, hospitals, including Centro Medico, which is there was a significant drop in the overall the largest tertiary health provider in the numbers. Post-Hurricane Maria, this number is Island. Its programs cover multiple expected to drop as many institutions had to specializations including: medicine, pharmacy, close and many students either did not attend nursing, dentistry, public health and allied schools or decided to complete studies in health professions. Together with other United States universities. For the 2016-2017 advanced programs such as social work and academic year, higher education enrolled psychiatry, the UPR Medical School produces 227,255 students. quality health professionals that serve the population in critical areas. (Plan SoS UPR, 2.0, March 2018) The Higher Education system in Puerto Rico comprises one public university system and a large network of private higher education institutions offering a variety of degrees. The University of Puerto Rico is the The UPR also houses important state university; receives 68% of its funding partnerships through programs such as from the government of Puerto Rico; and Programa de Acceso e Integración Deporte operates 11 regional campuses with Rio Comunitario (PAIDCO), which leads in the Piedras serving as its headquarters and promotion of physical activity and wellness; Mayaguez as the STEM campus. the Proyecto Enlace Caño Martín Peña, which Through its Medical School, it also promotes environmental health for the administers the Hospital Universitario residents in communities from the G-8; and (University Hospital) de Carolina Dr. Federico the alliance with the Ricky Martin Foundation J. Trillas, which serves approximately 58,000 and the Office for Women Rights in promoting people annually. The faculty at the Medical education programs for women, as well as School plays an important role in providing combating issues of human trafficking. At the healthcare for the entire Island through their Mayaguez Campus, these efforts include work with tertiary health institutions and SIEMPREVIVAS Project, the University paralleled by severe development areas, such Institute for Community Development, the as, underutilization of labor resources, high Red Sísmica, the Sea Grant Program and the unemployment, and low labor force various offices housing the agricultural participation (Federal Reserve Bank, 2012). extension programs, as well as experimental Now more than ever, addressing these stations that promote the development of challenges are at the core of the future of communities, the safety of people and Puerto Rico and require out-of-the- box, communities in the presence of earthquakes innovative, and integrated solutions that focus and tsunamis and environmental conversation. on alignment, consistency, and investments on (Plan SoS UPR, 2.0, March 2018) the local human and social capital. Higher The private Higher Education system Education and the K-12 educational system has grown substantially in Puerto Rico and play paramount roles in ensuring that the receives most of their funding from the competitive edge for Puerto Rico is maximized combination of Pell grants and tuition revenue and that the human and intellectual capital is from students. On the positive side, most nurtured, sustained and retained. students enrolled in higher education are College and universities play a completing 4-year degrees and the number of fundamental role in advancing the new students completing graduate degrees at the knowledge economy and therefore any master’s and doctoral levels has been strategy for economic development must increasing. integrate these institutions as important Key indicators of the higher education anchors in four core areas: education, sector in Puerto Rico compared to