2012 Gubernatorial State of the State Speeches & Higher Education
UPDATED: February 14, 2012
Speeches given: 40
Speeches that have mentioned higher education: 35
Alabama
Gov. Robert Bentley (R)
State of the State Address
February 7, 2012
- Governor Bentley did not mention higher education in his remarks.
Alaska
Gov. Sean Parnell (R)
State of the State Address
January 19, 2012
- Highlighted the Alaska Performance Scholarship.
- Claimed the scholarship has increased the number of students taking the ACT and SAT
- Called for setting aside money for the program and building a strong "fence of moral obligation" around it
- QUOTE: "The Alaska Performance Scholarship opens doors of higher learning to more students – for those who want to go to a university, and for those who want to go to a certified job training school."
Arizona
Gov. Jan Brewer (R)
State of the State Address
January 9, 2012
- Gov. Brewer did not discuss higher education in her remarks.
Arkansas
Gov. Mike Beebe (D)
No address scheduled in 2012
California
Gov. Jerry Brown (D)
State of the State Address
January 18, 2012
- Gov. Brown did not discuss higher education in his remarks
Colorado
Gov. John Hickenlooper (D)
State of the State Address
January 12, 2012
- Administration is exploring separating Pinnacol Assurance, a state-chartered workers’ compensation fund, from the state. The revenue resulting from the restructuring has the potential for funding economic development and higher education scholarships
- QUOTE: “The link between higher education and economic development is clear. They go hand in glove. So if we agree on a new future for Pinnacol, we hope you will also agree that funding for scholarships makes sense.”
Connecticut
Gov. Dan Malloy (D)
State of the State Address
February 8, 2012
- Lauded the state's "world-class colleges and universities where young men and women unlock the doors of knowledge and allow their minds to expand."
Delaware
Gov. Jack Markell (D)
State of the State Address
January 19, 2012
- Linked higher education and the economy together. Delaware can attract business opportunities because they have “good higher education institutions.”
- Recognized Delaware’s higher education institutions for working hard on health and wellness incentives for their employees.
Florida
Gov. Rick Scott (R)
State of the State Address
January 10, 2012
- Plans to re-examine higher education system to ensure Florida has the talented and educated workforce needed to advance the state.
- QUOTE: “But we need to be realists about this. Somewhere out there today, there are governmental officials meeting in Brazil, or India, or China, and they’re not debating about whether they should provide students with the pragmatic knowledge to seize a larger piece of the global economy. No, they only debate they are having is about how quickly they can become dominant global players.”
- QUOTE: “I look forward to working with you to closely look at our higher education system; to understand how we can ensure that in the ensure that in the future, job creators from around the world will have to look to Florida to find the talented and education workforce they will need to compete in the 21st century.”
Georgia
Gov. Nathan Deal (R)
State of the State Address
January 10, 2012
- Lauded adjustment to keep the HOPE scholarship sustainable. His budget maintains same HOPE award as last year.
- Appropriated $20 million for the needs based student loan program.
- Called for full funding of enrollment growth at technical college and university systems
- Charged postsecondary institutions to maintain focus on employability, job creation and partnerships with the business community.
- Introduced a public-private initiative ("Go Build Georgia") that will “round out our workforce development program by educating young people and the public at large about the skilled trades.”
- Proposed developing a world-class, public medical university
Hawaii
Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D)
State of the State Address
January 23, 2012
- Stressed college readiness, particularly early childhood.
- Highlighted the importance of an excellent early childhood and elementary education in contributing to high school graduation and college attendence.
Idaho
Gov. Butch Otter (R)
State of the State Address
January 9, 2012
- Introduced the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM), a plan to foster relationship between the campus and the business community with the goal of creating more jobs
- Plans to fully fund enrollment growth and new facility use at universities, colleges and community colleges.
- Praised collaboration between North Idaho College, the College of Southern Idaho and the College of Western Idaho. Highlighted effort to defer funds to go to the fast-growing College of Western Idaho.
- Appropriated $60 million to be set aside for reserve accounts for public education, budget and higher education
Illinois
Gov. Pat Quinn (D)
State of the State Address
February 1, 2012
- Highlighted the state’s investment in campus projects.
- Sttressed the importance of access to higher education; stating that the legislature should invest funding into the MAP scholarship program.
- Quote: “The best economic tool a state can have is a strong, innovative education system.”
Indiana
Gov. Mitch Daniels (R)
State of the State Address
January 11, 2012
- Highlighted assisting students with the cost of higher education by limiting “credit creep.” He suggests that the Higher Ed Commission look into streamlining credits for those majors that can be completed within the traditional 120 credit hour model.
Iowa
Gov. Terry Branstad (R)
Condition of the State Address
January 10, 2012
- Called for increasing admission standards for teacher education programs
- All juniors should take the college entrance exam, with the option of taking the work-skills readiness test
Kansas
Gov. Sam Brownback (R)
State of State Address
January 11, 2012
- Gov. Brownback did not discuss higher education in his remarks.
Kentucky
Gov. Steve Beshear (D)
State of the Commonwealth Address
January 4, 2012
- Stressed career and technical education for the workforce
- Highlighted dual credit agreements that allow students in high school to earn college credit including but not limited to those in career and technical education.
Louisiana
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R)
State of the State Address
TBA
Maine
Gov. Paul LePage (R)
State of the State Address
January 24, 2012
- Governor LePage stressed the importance of college and career readiness.
- He suggested that increased access to Maine’s Career and Technical Education System is imperative for students before entering the state’s workforce.
Maryland
Gov. Martin O’Malley (D)
State of the State Address
February 1, 2012
- Emphasized the importance of college affordability.
- Stressed increased college readiness.
Massachusetts
Gov. Deval Patrick (D)
State of the State Address
January 23, 2012
- Discussed the role of community colleges in addressing the skills gap
- Called for a unified, streamlined community college system tailored to local workforce needs
- Included a $10 million budget increase for community colleges
Michigan
Gov. Rick Snyder (R)
State of the State Address
January 18, 2012
- College readiness increased from 16% to 17%, which is "unacceptable"
Minnesota
Gov. Mark Dayton (D)
State of the State Address
February 15, 2012
- Seeksto expand GI Bill benefits to “all eras” of veterans.
- Stressed the importance of degree attainment for Minnesotans and charged the higher education community to increase degree attainment in light of budget cuts.
- Hopes to see improvement in the quality of post-secondary teachers, classrooms and curricula; stating these are crucial factors for the success of students upon graduation.
- Would like to see the “FastTRAC” initiative on every campus.
- Thinks it imperative for the workforce development and the higher education communities to align, focusing on funding and programming that will allow students to obtain the skills needed for a successful transition into Minnesota’s workforce.
Mississippi
Gov. Phil Bryant (R)
State of the State Address
TBA
Missouri
Gov. Jay Nixon (D)
State of the State Address
January 17, 2012
- Lauded the establishment of new higher-education programs: Caring for Missourians; Training for Tomorrow; MoHealthWINS; and Nurse Training Initiative.
- QUOTE: "Our economy is changing. And education can't stop at high school. Because by the next decade, nearly two-thirds of all jobs in the United States will require some kind of post-secondary education. That means more Missouri kids will need a college degree. But too many families simply can't afford the cost of a college education."
- QUOTE: " While universities in other states were increasing tuition by double digits, we froze tuition in 2009 and 2010 at all our public colleges and universities. Last year, I challenged our colleges to continue to hold down tuition. As a result, enrollment at our public colleges has surged. Over the past three years, we've added 31,000 students. That's set a new record each fall."
- Budget will provide stable funding for state student grant aid programs, including Bright Flight, Access Missouri and A+.
- Highlighted the A+ program, which cover tuition and fees at any public two-year college who are willing to work hard, play by the rules and give back to their communities
- Calls on colleges and universities to cut overhead and administrative costs
- Praised the Innovation Campus at the University of Central Missouri
Montana
Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D)
No address scheduled in 2012
Nebraska
Gov. Dave Heineman (R)
State of the State Address
January 12, 2012
- Praised investment in the University of Nebraska’s Innovation Campus, a public-private research and economic development venture
Nevada
Gov. Brian Sandoval (R)
State of the State Address
TBA
New Jersey
Gov. Chris Christie (R)
State of the State Address
January 17, 2012
- Proposed to restore the Earned Income Tax Credit for the state's working poor, which will help residents pay for college
New Hampshire
Gov. John Lynch (D)
State of the State Address
January 31, 2012
- Stressed access to a quality P-20 education for New Hampshire’s children. He stated that this will assure a strong workforce for the state.
- Called for increased funding for higher education.
- Quote: “For our economic future, we must make it a priority to restore funding for higher education.”
New Mexico
Gov. Susana Martinez (R)
State of the State Address
January 17, 2012
- Outlined strategies to increase college readiness
- QUOTE: “There are also several things we can do to raise graduation rates and prepare our children for college, like assessing kids from the fourth to 10th grades to catch kids before they fall too far behind, paying for 10th graders to take the Pre-SAT,and expanding access to Advanced Placement classes for low-income students.”
New York
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D)
State of the State Address
January 4, 2012
- Put forth a plan to offer SUNY’s 60 campuses the ability to compete for three $20 million challenge grants, with $10 million coming from the Executive and $10 million from SUNY.
North Carolina
Gov. Bev Perdue (D)
State of the State Address
TBA
North Dakota
Gov. Jack Dalrymble (R)
No address scheduled in 2012
Ohio
Gov. John Kasich (R)
State of the State Address
February 7, 2012
- Called upon community colleges to expedite the training of their students so there would be a decreased time to degree and an increase in the Ohio workforce.
- He focused on an increased graduation rate.
- He highlighted the “capitol bill” which is a collaborative effort by all university presidents that focuses on fixing the university system as a whole, not on individual bases.
Oklahoma
Gov. Mary Fallin (R)
State of the State Address
February 6, 2012
- Set a goal to increase the number of Oklahomans with degrees and certificates from 30,500 to 50,900.
- Quote: “We know that a majority of the jobs created in the next decade will require either a college education or a career certificate from one of our Career Technology centers and that college graduates earn $1 million more over their lifetime than high school graduates.”
Oregon
Gov. John Kitzhaber (D)
State of the State Address
January 13, 2012
- Praised effort to streamline funding and governance between K-12 and postsecondary education
- Reiterated state goal: 100 percent high school graduation by 2025, 80 percent participation in at least two years of postsecondary education and 40 percent earning a bachelor’s degree or higher
Pennsylvania
Gov. Tom Corbett (R)
Budget Address
February 7, 2012
- Governor Corbett created a higher education panel to “…make recommendations on how our universities can best serve the students...”
- He proposed a 30% cut in state funded dollars to the following: Penn State, Pitt, and Temple. The State System of Higher Education School would see a 20% cut.
Rhode Island
Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I)
State of the State Address
January 31, 2012
- Referenced Pittsburgh’s "meds and eds" initiative as a great example for economic growth and stability; he hopes to create a similar model for the state.
- Commissioner Di Pasquale and Presidents Carriuolo and Dooley for their collaboration on higher education issues.
South Carolina
Gov. Nikki Haley (R)
State of the State Address
January 18, 2012
- Focused on higher education funding. He recommended a merit as well as accountability based funding.
- QUOTE: “Finally, the Executive Budget calls for an evolution of the way we fund higher education. Our intention is twofold: reward the schools that well-serve our students while providing real motivation for those that need to improve.
- QUOTE: "I was a legislator. I remember the pressure that comes with the budget. I also know that there needs to be a better, more consistent way to fund higher education, one based on merit and accountability, not on which school is the most popular."
- QUOTE: "By adopting a new accountability-based funding formula for higher education, we all win. The schools get stability and flexibility. Legislators will no longer be faced with university lobbyists demanding dollar after dollar. And above all, South Carolina’s parents and students will know that their education is fairly and appropriately funded."
South Dakota
Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R)
State of the State Address
January 11, 2012
- Called for expanding technical and vocational education
- Proposed having 2,000 students take the National Career Readiness Certificate Test
- Lauded success of the tuition reimbursement program for doctors, dentists, and midlevel health care worker
- Stated supported for expanding tuition reimbursement program
Tennessee
Gov. Bill Haslam (R)
State of the State Address
January 30, 2012
- Stressed that it is the government’s duty to offer higher education programs; stating that higher education must be a priority for Tennessee.
- Increased funding for higher education institutions operating budgets and more money available for need-based scholarship
- Highlighted the need for increased access stating that the growing number of Tennessee students applying to state institutions must be accommodated. He noted that the budget passed this year should fully fund capital projects.
- Recommended that the Higher Education Commission directors report directly to the Governor
- College completion is an issue he is trying to address by restructuring common core curriculum and urging institutions to graduate students by way of the “Complete College Program”.
- Quote: " When 21 percent of our population has a degree, compared to a national average of 30 percent, and over half of the new jobs being created over the next decade will require degrees, encouraging more Tennesseans to aspire to higher education is one of our key roles as leaders of the state."
- Quote: “If we are going to be a state that attracts companies to locate and grow here; a state that keeps its best and brightest graduates here with good-paying, high-quality jobs for them here, there is nothing more important we can do than to focus on education.”
Texas
Gov. Rick Perry (R)
No address scheduled in 2012
Utah
Gov. Gary Herbert (R)
State of the State Address
January 25, 2012
- Addressed college readiness by suggesting that the state will provide additional online courses so that high school students can get a head start on their college educations.
- Will expand www.utahfutures.org to provde students with online career counseling to ensure the education tehy receive will get them a job
- Set a goalto have 66% of all Utah adults graduated with a post secondary degree or certificate by 2020.
- Quote: “My message to students is simple: “If you want a good job, get a good education." Now, it is up to us - assembled here - to make sure they can!”
Vermont
Gov. Peter Shumlin (D)
State of the State Address
January 5, 2012
- Plans to propose significant investments in higher education and dual enrollment in state budget
Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell (R)
State of the Commonwealth Address
January 11, 2012
- Proposed providing in-state tuition to members of the Virginia national guard, with no regard for how long they’ve lived in the state
- Will propose innovations to promote dual enrollment in high school and college
- Called for investments over $200 million in new funding for colleges and universities
- Proposed new funding formula, which will reward increasing the number of degrees, improving graduation rates and expanding practical research
- QUOTE: “We must complete higher education reform and reinvestment now, so more Virginia students can access and afford higher education."
Washington
Gov. Chris Gregoire (D)
State of the State Address
January 10, 2012
- Recognized the 46 percent cut to four-year higher education since the recession began and the 26 percent cut to community colleges
- Plans to ask universities to partner with low-performing K-12 institutions
- QUOTE: “We need to stop raising college tuition.”
West Virginia
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D)
State of the State Address
January 11, 2012
- State must continue to bridge the gap between education, research and business development
Wisconsin
Gov. Scott Walker (R)
State of the State Address
January 25, 2012
- Gov. Walker did not discuss higher education in his remarks
Wyoming
Gov. Matt Mead (R)
State of the State Address
February 13, 2011
- QUOTE: "Beyond the picture painted by these figures and reports, we have small businesses that are thriving, teachers that are innovating, community colleges and a university that continues to advances."
- QUOTE: " Wyoming should be viewed not just as the place to get the prodcue but as the place to get the technology and intellectual value, too. We can do this with continued robust support of the University of Wyoming and our Community and partnering with the private sector on new innovative projects."
- QUOTE: "We don't need to push all students into a four-year university. Career and technical education programs are perfectly viable alternatives."