Missouri's system of higher education, like most states' systems, grew out of the need to provide access to higher education for the post-World War II baby boom generation. As Paul Lingenfelter, Executive Director of the State Higher Education Executive Officers association pointed out recently, this system was developed using the old rules, which are rooted in the industrial economy.

Under the old rules, higher education was considered to be necessary only for those who were smart in school and who excelled academically, an estimated one-third of the population. The concept of need-based aid was introduced so that everyone who was qualified could receive a chance at higher education. Institutions worked hard to ensure excellence and thus pursued high standards, which meant hiring the best faculty and enrolling the smartest students.

In today's world of higher education, however, we are seeing the emergence of new rules as the knowledge economy matches and exceeds in scope the industrial economy. Many of the jobs that allowed high school graduates to earn a living 40 years ago no longer exist because of technological advances or jobs being relocated to other countries.

As a result, we are seeing more students wanting better salaries and business leaders wanting knowledgeable and skilled employees. According to Lingenfelter, more than 75% of high school students intend to obtain a baccalaureate degree and more than 90% of them intend to get some kind of postsecondary education. Excellence cannot be achieved by merely upholding ever higher standards. The higher education system must support the needs of a diverse student population that has different levels of preparation for postsecondary education.

While $400 million in cuts to higher education as a result of the state's budget situation has certainly not helped higher education in recent years, we have not let this situation paralyze us. We are moving forward to meet the needs of the knowledge economy and identifying how to adopt and live by the new rules in our higher education system.

The Commission on the Future of Higher Education was created by Governor Bob Holden to recommend ways to improve higher education in Missouri by examining five major areas: preparation, participation, affordability, completion and benefits. The commission is working with the support of the Pew Charitable Trusts and in partner-ship with the National Collaborative for Postsecondary Education Policy, which is comprised of three nationally recognized organizations: Education Commission of the States, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, and the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.

All participants want the result to be better lives for all Missourians, stronger colleges and universities leading the way and an example for the rest of the United States to follow.

The commission is expected to release a preliminary report in December 2003. The commission is exploring the ability of the Missouri higher education system to help achieve the state's high-priority goals. The process involved in this exploration includes studying the obstacles and potential strategies that affect Missouri's ability to achieve our priorities.

Complementing efforts of the commission, the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) and I have committed to a performance excellence initiative. The board and the Missouri Department of Higher Education have adopted the Missouri Quality Award criteria as our management philosophy for our work on the board and at the department. The Missouri Quality Award, modeled after the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award is recognized as one of the strongest state-level quality award programs in the country, and is the official state recognition for excellence in quality leadership.

The MQA criteria will provide us with a thorough and objective analysis of the work of the board and department and will allow us to implement quality techniques and assessment methods. We will identify desired outcomes and focus our efforts on results. We hope to be the model that higher education institutions in the state emulate as they begin living by the new rules.

Quentin Wilson is the Commissioner of the Missouri Department of Higher Education. He may be reached at 573.751.1876. or by email at Quentin.Wilson@mocbhe.gov.