Investing in Valley’s universities is smart strategy for brainpower

HUNTSVILLE — Universities are institutions that trace their genesis to 19th century America, and credible evidence exists that they are effective wealth-creating machines for the U.S. economy as well as the local communities they serve.

On the campuses of these universities in the Tennessee Valley – Athens State University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama A&M University and the University of North Alabama — you can witness students, faculty, and staff engaged in the pursuit of new knowledge. That creative application of new knowledge can go a long way to meeting critical challenges in the national interest. Progress in solving these challenges is essential to the future vitality and security of the United States.  

Alabama is fortunate to have several high-performing universities within its borders. These institutions of higher learning meld the best and brightest students from around Alabama with top quality faculty and partnerships with government and private industry that lead to innovative products and services that have revolutionized modern society and led to the prosperity we enjoy today.

Everywhere you look around the world we see nations making investments in the future, which recognize what the 21st century will look like – the century of innovation. 

Isn’t it about time we did the same in Alabama? 

Our state has been successful in recruiting industry and manufacturing. The economic activities created by these companies in Alabama have provided tremendous benefits to Alabamians, and hopefully will contribute to our economy for many years into the future.

I offer a challenge to policymakers in Montgomery to look at a similar investment for Alabama’s universities. While this approach may not be as innovative as other states around the country, many of those states have moved ahead on supporting their institutions of higher learning. A strategic and comprehensive plan to support and enhance universities has great merit. Even a fraction of the investment that we make in recruiting industry would provide adequate seed money to grow the enterprise among Alabama’s universities.

Alabama’s aggressive approach into building a knowledge economy would also create a high-quality workforce that would be destined to remain in Alabama and make economic contributions for life. Investing in universities will allow us to retain Alabama’s best minds, as well as recruit the top intellectual talent in the world to our state.

Is there a downside?

Universities are the first link in a chain of basic knowledge leading to applications that have revolutionized modern life. Investing in Alabama’s universities will allow this state to create a stronger first link in the state’s economic fortunes for the future.

Ray Garner served in the Alabama Legislature from North Alabama and was a member of the Education Finance Committee in the Alabama House of Representatives.