By Phil Riske | Senior Reporter/Writer
In an interview with Rose Law Group Reporter [RLGR], former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano said Arizona education continues to improve.
Napolitano also served as Arizona attorney general and Secretary of Homeland Security in the Obama Administration. She is now president of the University of California
RLGR: During the presidential campaign, there were calls to make college education tuition-free. Is that practical or even possible?
It is critically important that universities continue to work to contain costs and improve efficiencies. Tuition-free college education is a popular idea, but it won’t happen without significant investments by states and the federal government – well beyond the investments being made today. Tuition has risen when state funding for higher education has declined or failed to keep pace with enrollment growth. I don’t see that trend changing.
At the University of California, financial aid covers the tuition and fees of 57 percent of our California undergraduates – and part of those costs for another 20 percent. Funding for financial aid comes from tuition, as well as the state’s Cal Grants and federal financial aid programs. One-third of every tuition dollar goes to UC financial aid to ensure that tuition is covered for students from families with an annual income of less than $80,000. One result is that 42 percent of UC’s undergraduate students are the first in their family to get a college education.
Aside from rising tuitions, what are the chief challenges today for higher education?
One of the big challenges – and opportunities – for public colleges and universities is to help policy makers, elected officials and taxpayers understand the benefits of investing in higher education. We need to do more to demonstrate that colleges and universities are engines for economic growth and innovation. For research universities like the University of California, federal funding of research is a very high priority, as it should be for people and communities across the nation who benefit every day from the medical discoveries, inventions and other knowledge fueling the economy and the future of America.
Arizona continues to struggle with education funding and scholastic achievement. From what you know, is Arizona education better or worse off from when you were governor?
Despite funding challenges, Arizona’s institutions of higher learning have continued to improve. And it was encouraging to hear of Governor Ducey’s commitment to increase the state’s investment in K-12 public schools – and to expand full-day kindergarten. What goes around, comes around. I say that as someone who championed state investment in public education, including pre-school programs, when I was governor.
What possible dangers are ahead if President-Elect Trump continues his defiance of the intel community?
America will be best served if our next president and his administration listen and learn from those with the most expertise, and make intelligent decisions based on that knowledge. The men and women who work in the intelligence community are great patriots with tremendous knowledge and expertise that is incredibly valuable to our nation. It will not serve our nation well to denigrate our intelligence community, instead of using their expertise.
What political leaders have the most sensible proposals for immigration reform?
There are members of Congress from both of our major political parties who have proposed sensible immigration measures. The so-called Gang of Eight in the South, for example, managed to pass a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform measure, which, while not perfect, contained all of the essential ingredients of comprehensive immigration reform. Right now, as president of the University of California – the nation’s premier public research university, I am particularly concerned about DACA. I look forward to working with Congress and the new Administration on ensuring that all of our students, whether documented or not, are able to pursue their dreams, receive an education, and make valuable contributions to their communities and our nation.
When you retire, which office – Arizona AG, governor, Homeland Security or your current position – will you look back upon as the most memorable?
I’m far from retirement. When I do retire, I will treasure every form of public service I have experienced. Serving as Arizona’s attorney general always will occupy a special place in my heart because that was my first elective office. Being elected, twice, as governor of Arizona and leading the state I still love is something I’ll never forget. It was quite a privilege as well to lead Homeland Security as a member of President Obama’s Cabinet, and every aspect of that experience was memorable. I would say, though, that I love being president of the University of California system. I love the mission of teaching, research and public service, and I love leading an institution dedicated to creating and sharing knowledge, and expanding opportunity.
