Oakland University President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz presented the annual State of the University Address on Oct. 10 to speak on the myths and challenges impacting higher education and OU’s efforts to overcome them.
The OU president addressed the myth that a college degree is unaffordable and unnecessary while also listing the initiatives the university is employing to overcome declining enrollment, unsatisfactory graduation rates, equity graduation gaps and a mental health crisis.
The speech was preceded by the Repertory Dance Company performance of “Just Wave,” choreographed by the Associate Professor of Dance Thayer Jonutz. Pescovitz also took a moment to thank the legislators, county officials and local mayors who attended the event and congratulate the OU deans and Leadership Team Council for their work this past year.
Disproving Myths
To debunk the myth that a college degree is not important, nor necessary for a high-paying job, Pescovitz explained that college graduates are twice as likely to be employed compared to those with only a high school diploma.
“Earnings for bachelor’s degree holders are 86% greater than those with only a high school diploma,” Pescovitz said. “Median lifetime earnings are $1.2 million higher for bachelor’s degree holders.”
Out of Michigan’s hot 50 job outlook through 2032, 42 require at least a bachelor’s degree, with the highest-paid ones having the same requirement, she explained. Pescovitz further detailed the university’s success in connecting students with such job opportunities.
“72% of Our graduating seniors are employed within a year, and 98% of those students work right here in Michigan,” Pescovitz said. “The OU pledge ensures that every undergraduate student has an experiential learning opportunity, such as an internship, research, study abroad and others that complement their academic studies.”
With a national average of $40,681 in debt after graduation, the OU president celebrated that 52% of OU students graduated with no debt and those who did only owed $22,750 on average. She pointed to student aid initiatives as one of the reasons for this development.
“For new students from families earning less than $70,000 annually, tuition is free,” Pescovitz said. “The Golden Grizzlies Graduate Program further supports affordability by helping students who had to pause their education.”
Facing Challenges
The declining enrollment of college students in Michigan due to the 15% decrease in high school graduates over the past decade was the first challenge Pescovitz addressed.
The President’s web page interactive dashboard, the president explained, was one of the first strategic enrollment management tools. The website included an institutional profile, student success stories, retention and graduation rates, etc.
“Last Saturday at our Go for the Gold event, we reported the highest-ever attendance at our open house for prospective undergraduate students,” Pescovitz said. “We find this extremely encouraging because it comes at a time of negative statewide enrollment trends.”
Partnerships with Oakland Community College and Macomb Community College were also listed as key proactive admissions strategies. For the first time, OCC students lived at OU residence halls, which is a benefit that will now be extended to MCC students.
“We are encouraged that applications for new undergraduate students are up nearly 34%,” Pescovitz said. “Although our enrollment has progressively declined from 2017 through this fall, the promising Go for the Gold participation being number two in the state in transfer students and increasing applications for winter are all encouraging signs.”
With a static 58% six-year graduation rate and a decreasing graduation rate for underrepresented minority students, “we’ve taken numerous aggressive key strategies to address retention and graduation rates,” Pescovitz said.
The strengthening of academic advising and financial aid enhancements thanks to the nearly $1 million provided by the Dream Initiative and the Sixty by 30 Grant were listed as some of the initiatives supportive of first-generation student graduations.
Enhancing services at Graham Health Center, the Counseling Center and the launch of Uwill’s teleconsulting platform were among the efforts listed to tend to the mental health needs of the campus community.
Accomplishments and Developments
“We celebrate diversity and are very proud that we are ranked as the second most LGBTQ+ friendly campus in Michigan,” Pescovitz said. “We’re so proud of our gold-level status from the Veterans Affairs agency.”
Ranking as the safest campus in Michigan and the seventh in the country and winning the McCafferty Award for the Horizon League’s all-sports champion were celebrated alongside a 95% student-athlete graduation rate and the growing number of student organizations.
“We’re continually enhancing the learning environment, renovating classrooms and laboratories, improving accessibility, building contemporary, cutting-edge classrooms and inclusive campus settings,” Pescovitz said. “We’re restructuring general education requirements to make courses more streamlined and accessible and we’re creating support for culturally resident pedagogy.”
The $29 million in 110 research grants received by OU exceeded last year’s total by 15%, allowing for the grand opening of the Research and Innovation Center and the inclusion of 12 OU faculty members in Stanford’s list of the top 2% of scientists in the entire world.
“In January, Oakland received the 2024 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification,” Pescovitz said. “The status reflects a major endorsement for our work in the OU Pontiac initiative.”
An increase in OU student voting, five ribbon cuttings and the surpassing of the $150 million goal of the “Aspire. Advance. Achieve.” campaign was also listed as the latest successes on campus.
“We’re developing a campus master plan that will complement the vision and initiatives set forth in our new strategic plan,” Pescovitz said. “Together, these complementary plans will further develop the facilities, natural resources and promise of the university.”
The OU president encouraged students to help out with the university’s advancement efforts by studying hard and making connections — efforts that would contribute towards increasing enrollment and graduation rates.
“Let us pledge to work together to further elevate Oakland as a preeminent international university with an intensely regional focus and a global impact,” Pescovitz said. “I know that together, we can, we must and we will.”
