Recently, as reported by Inside Higher Ed, Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Due to this decision, many started talking about Walz’s strong commitment to making higher education accessible again.
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Key Takeaways
- Walz has previously introduced initiatives like the North Star Promise, offering free college tuition for students from families earning less than $80,000.
- Under Walz’s leadership, Minnesota invested $650 million in public colleges and universities, boosting enrollment and accessibility.
- Walz has consistently advocated for higher education, introducing various policies to support students and faculty.
Governor Walz, a former high school teacher, has always emphasized the importance of education. His administration introduced several policies aimed at making education more accessible and affordable. The North Star Promise program, which offers free college tuition to students from families earning less than $80,000, is proof of his continuous dedication to solving the education question. Additionally, a scholarship program under his leadership made college free for students who are members of tribal nations.
Political and Professional Background
Before his governorship, Walz served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. A Nebraska native, he enlisted in the Army National Guard at 17 and later graduated from Chadron State College in 1989. His background as a high school social studies teacher further underscores his commitment to education.
Under Walz’s leadership, Minnesota made it easier for university employees, including adjuncts, to unionize. The state also introduced limitations on when colleges can withhold transcripts and banned public colleges from entering into revenue-sharing agreements with outside companies to manage online programs. Walz remarked on social media,
“It is the honor of a lifetime to join Kamala Harris in this campaign. I’m all in.”
Legislative Achievements
Walz’s tenure saw significant investments in higher education. The state invested $650 million over two years, leading to increased enrollment in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. This includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven four-year institutions. Scott Olson, Chancellor of the Minnesota State system, praised Walz, saying,
“Governor Walz has been a consistent advocate for higher education in Minnesota.”
Despite these successes, Walz’s administration faced challenges, including a $40 million shortfall in the state’s financial aid program. This shortfall resulted in smaller state financial aid packages for some students. Surprisingly though, the free college program remained unaffected.
Public Reaction and Campaign Plans
Harris and Walz kicked off their campaign together at a rally in Philadelphia. They plan to visit several swing states before the Democratic National Convention, beginning on August 19. This selection of Walz has garnered praise from Democratic lawmakers, unions, and progressive groups. However, the Trump campaign criticized Walz, labeling him a “dangerously liberal extremist.” Yet, considering that such criticism centers on Walz’s efforts to provide undocumented immigrants with state benefits and include them in the state’s college promise program, it’s nothing worth paying attention to.
On the other side though, there’s a growing positive response to the Walz’s candidacy. Jake Schwitzer, executive director of North Star Policy Action, praised Walz’s accomplishments, especially the promise program. He stated,
“It shows you that he believes strongly in collective action and the government’s role to improve people’s lives.”
Jenna Chernega, a professor at Winona State University and president of the Inter Faculty Organization, highlighted Walz’s commitment to higher education and labor issues, adding that he has been “incredible” on these fronts.
The majority of the community though mostly wondering about Tim Walz’s stance on the education question. As such, many people are wondering
“Will Tim Walz bring a renewed interest in education spending if he and Harris win the election?”
The Discussion
This hot topic was recently brought up on Reddit, sparking a lively discussion.
Gathering the responses from the Reddit community, it seems that the overall consensus is that many agree that if somebody will solve the financial side of the education question, it is going to be Tim Walz. For the general audience, this possibility is supported by his previous contributions to the reforming of academia.
A few users also emphasized the importance of expanding the Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO), a program that allows high school students to take community college courses for free, earning both high school and college credit.
“One of the programs I’d love to see him advocate at the federal level is PSEO. It’s not talked about much because it existed well before he was governor but it’s really a program that should be expanded everywhere. It lowers the disadvantages to students who might have higher aspirations and skills but don’t go to a school with many AP classes. And it can also be used at technical colleges which can be the difference between someone working a no-skill labor job out of high school and gaining the skills/motivation to take on a more skilled trade like electricians and welders.”
Some users highlighted Walz’s potential to bring more efficient spending to education:
“He will make the case for smarter spending on education. Education has plenty of money allocated to it from local, state, and federal sources. He knows where the waste is and what regulations might make sense on paper but mean nothing to the life of students and teachers…“
The excitement for Walz’s diverse background was also noted, as people were relieved to finally see someone in politics having a similar work background as them.
Still, despite such an enthusiastic acceptance of this recent news, some people stay skeptical. They recognize that even though Tim Walz is probably a fitting candidate, he still won’t have that much power as a Vice President.
“It is important to remember that the Vice President doesn’t do any legislation. The vice president typically does a lot of foreign policy work, diplomatic work, and primarily works to support the president. Don’t get me wrong I like Tim Walz from the little I know about him, but I don’t think that the Vice Presidency will suit him very well. I think he would make a great secretary of education or senator. Also, most education budgetary decisions are made at the state level anyway and schools receive very little funding from the federal government.”
The Main Point
As we can see, even despite a dash of criticism, the general response to Tim Walz’s candidacy as Vice President is largely positive, with many praising his strong commitment to education and his impressive track record as Governor of Minnesota. His initiatives like the North Star Promise and significant investments in higher education have earned him a reputation as a steadfast advocate for accessible education. While some express skepticism about the impact he can make as Vice President, given the role’s limitations in legislative matters, there is a shared sense of optimism about his potential to influence education policy and spending. All we can do at this point is just sit back and look at how these upcoming elections will unfold.
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