To the editor:

About university report cards: Why is it that often when public personalities speak out about the concerns taxpayers have about university performance they recite examples of raising ACT thresholds and minority enrollment? Just what have those things to do with improving the state’s universities? Nothing. While those may be worthy goals, they do nothing to address taxpayer concerns or the quality of education at state-sponsored universities. The primary mission of this state’s universities is still to provide quality education to the children of its residents, the taxpayers.

If the Kansas Board of Regents or the administration really wants this or any other state school to improve, why not suggest a report card that is truly performance-driven, as in how well are the classes and programs at the universities themselves actually executing their mission, not how many National Merit finalists a given school is attracting.

National Merit finalists, ACT scores, minority enrollment, etc., are simply distractions used to avoid the real issue. It is like me saying that in order to get to work on time I need a faster car. No, what I really need is to change the way I operate because the performance issue lies with me, not my vehicle.

I am glad you brought this idea up. It is important, and the report card would be a useful tool, just as it is already for our high schools. Maybe you should ask various business people in the state if the products of our university system are up to snuff and what improvements they think could be made before commenting on this again.

Chip Cook,

Lawrence