Be engaged: Higher Education and the Rural/Urban Divide

Do city-dwellers view higher education more favorably than those living in rural areas? How can advocates for higher education demonstrate its relevance and value across the state?

On January 4, alumni, faculty, staff and other members of the UW community explored these questions at UW Impact‘s Legislative Preview Higher Education and the Rural/Urban Divide.

UW Impact helps fulfill the UW Alumni Association’s mission of supporting higher education by mobilizing alumni to be productive advocates in Olympia. For four years in a row, UW Impact has hosted this event looking ahead to issues at play in the legislative session in Olympia. This year, the legislative session opened Monday, January 8. 

Insights from the Panel

Dr. Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, moderated the event. Dr. Taylor attended college at Gonzaga University in Spokane and maintains deep ties in Eastern Washington. The panel included the Evans School’s Dr. Scott Allard, an expert in the changing demographics between rural, urban and suburban communities; Rep. J.T. Wilcox (R) from the largely rural 2^nd legislative district (Yelm and surrounding areas); former Rep. Jessyn Farrell, ’96, (D), of Seattle; and Tyler Grandgeorge, a JD candidate at the UW School of Law from Ephrata, WA, who represented the student perspective.

Dr. Taylor began by citing recent polling that suggests that some Americans are beginning to have an unfavorable view of higher education. Rep. Wilcox acknowledged that although universities do have an economic and statewide impact, that impact is not directly felt by many Washingtonians, particularly those in districts like his own. He urged universities like the UW to do a better job of outreach and engagement, particularly outside urban hubs.

Farrell emphasized that higher education should not be a Republican or a Democratic issue, but should provide an opportunity to unite both parties.

In recent history, the divide between Washington’s urban and rural populations has resulted in a deadlocked legislature. Last year, the legislature went into triple overtime, with three special sessions beyond the scheduled legislative calendar. Despite these tensions, lawmakers have come together around higher education, passing an historic tuition cut in 2016.

What about the perception that college campuses do not welcome the diverse political perspectives of students? Grandgeorge noted that while a few professors may be less comfortable with political extremes, most in-class discussions allow for vulnerability with regard to expressing political positions. Dr. Allard urged all of those in the higher education community to be open-minded and “ready to learn and to be comfortable with being wrong.”

All panelists agreed on the need to focus on the values we share, rather than those that divide us.

Finding Common Ground

At the event, the UW Alumni Association debuted its new Common Ground project, which includes programming and communications designed to challenge our thinking, encourage civic engagement and reflect statewide perspectives.

UW Impact recently hosted the first Common Ground event, Drinks & Dialogue: Bridging the Divide, on February 6. Close to 100 people gathered at Central Cinema in Seattle. After watching a selection of TED Talks on the subject, attendees took part in an interactive conversation led by UW Tacoma Professor Riki Thompson. They explored the challenges — and rewards — of having conversations with those who hold opposing views.

As the legislature opened this year, lawmakers entered a different political environment than they have in recent years. After a 2017 special election, Democrats control both the State House and the State Senate. This doesn’t mean the political divide is over. Politics isn’t that simple. It just means that different dynamics are in the play in the effort to find common ground and move forward — as one Washington.