Tough Times, The Long View, & The University of Fall River

Subtitle: You Might Want to Sit Down for This One 

Chinese-proverb say: “Missed Opportunity May turn into Tiger that Eats You Alive.”  

Social scientists and others will tell you there are two fundamental aspects to successful, vital, urban life: Education, and Commerce. These two drive all else. Presently, in these trying times, having seen across many decades the consequences of the demise of the textile industry and the loss of so many manufacturing jobs here and across the country, Fall River would do well to cultivate both— one man’s view. Yes, BCC is a splendid educational institution and serves a wonderful purpose in the City. And the UMass/Dartmouth campus, including the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center, is certainly a welcome and substantial presence in Fall River. Without these two institutions, the City would clearly not be the Fall River we know and appreciate at the present time. 

But consider what goes on in some cities familiar to all of us: In Boston, Wikipedia.com lists 50 colleges and universities, with a student population totaling over 200,000. Similarly, Providence notes 7 institutions (including NEIT and Bryant University), for a total of more than 50,000 students. Upon a simple query, on-line, none are listed in the City of Fall River, directly. BCC and Psalter School comes up with a little more key-stroke effort. Consider the following: What kinds of annual revenues would the City of Fall River with a student population of 25,000, each paying $40K in tuition? Unless my arithmetic is erroneous, the answer is an amazing billion dollars, every year.  

Think about it. Present circumstances include what we know to be all too familiar; on one side, relatively low, therefore, less-competitive levels of advanced education among the citizenry, high unemployment, manufacturing jobs lost to more competitive countries, product-companies and high-net worth people leaving (or having left) the city, a high percentage of single-parent households, and relatively low per-capita and per-family annual income.

On the market side of the equation I would note the following; at the macro-level, a global population that is expected to grow from 6B to 9B before 2030; the “green” movement is in its infancy; more down-to-earth, there is an estimated 10,000,000 square feet of mill space to ponder, an underused waterfront, an inherently beautiful, picturesque city landscape in which the geologic attributes of Fall River as it sits basically on a ridge between Watuppa Pond and Narragansett Bay are clearly appreciated; the presence of a strong creative class exists; a population of impressive examples of American mill and residential architecture still inspire; a vital Chamber of Commerce and a determined community of professionals committed to the proposition that America develop its 21^st century post-industrial product invention and development capabilities, pushes forward. All want to see the USA expand its manufacturing capacities (robotic, and conventional), explore new and alluring technologies, and cultivate a revitalized  economic base made up of advanced companies associated with sustainable, “Green Living.” By my observation, any number of distinguished citizens would be enthusiastic to see this process begin right here in Fall River. 

As to the still-mushrooming cost of education, consider-- Boston University just announced a tuition expense of more than $51K, per year. How many American families will be able to afford a simple undergraduate degree for its children, most especially under present economic conditions in which the availability of cash, credit, scholarships, savings and other resources are for many all being severely stretched, strained and tested, simultaneously?

This begs the question: Is there a better economic model for procuring a 21^st century education? Yes, I believe there is. One look no further than the Internet, and what is happening in education, on-line. It is not difficult to imagine a student population in the City of perhaps 10-15,000 residents attending the “real” University of Fall River, and another perhaps 20 or 30 thousand from around the world getting their degree, “on-line.” This kind of plan would offer just such an entirely different kind of economic model, and a very contemporary one. 

But given that at least one new University is not charging anything for an undergraduate education, one written up recently in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/education/26university.html), it is conceivable that the UFR could create a cost/degree structure such that for $20-30K per year (half-price!), any student from any locality in any country could find life enhanced by procuring an advanced education at the University of Fall River. (Check out the University of Phoenix http://www.phoenix.edu, which charges approximately $430-550 per credit-hour. Also, see Full-Sail University, http://www.fullsail.edu, and a new Massachusetts institution, http://www.Olin.edu, whose educational mission resonates in the mind of this author, “Olin College prepares students to become exemplary engineering innovators who recognize needs, design solutions, and engage in creative enterprises for the good of the world.”)

In addition, in Rhode Island, The New England Institute of Technology provides a fascinating educational model (see http://www.neit.edu).

In a note of irony, my understanding is that in Fall River, there are currently 14 schools for sale. As one familiar with a few of these structures, I can attest several appear to be terrific city assets, architecturally interesting and solid buildings whose quality of construction and materials would be difficult to duplicate, today. In some cases, these could amount to the greenest-of-the-green buildings, not far from being ready to go. It is not difficult to imagine that by some fluke-of-fate these schools are purchased from the City for a modest sum, say, $1.00, each— a compelling proposition. Then, perhaps by the magic of some Obama money, a mix of federal, State and local monies, or by the clever, combined MOJO of a few prescient, local businessmen and women, a smart grid is built to connect these schools, creating one powerful networked University. Each school building in the network can then be architecturally retrofitted for the 21^st century, meaning, updated with special emphasis on utilizing heat sinks, solar cells, wind turbines, electrical-generating windows, and any hydro or geo-thermal advantage that may be feasible so as to become…voila! The University of Fall River, a world-class educational innovation designed for matriculating students to steward the world in the 21^st century. Take a look at what Princeton University is doing on this topic to get a glimpse.

It is easy, frankly, to imagine that the intellectual hub of life in New England, located (some would say) in Cambridge, MA, could be stretched so that it encompasses not only areas of northern Massachusetts and parts of southern Maine, the communities dotting routes 128 to the west, the newly created “Knowledge District” in the “Creative Capital,” of Providence, Rhode Island, but also the south coast, located in Fall River, Massachusetts. In terms of geographic and population density, Fall River offers something compelling to work with.

Out of this exercise would most assuredly arise yet another reconsideration as to a Master Plan-- what any new vision of the City should include, and not; how the City proper is to be best utilized on behalf of its citizens, how its resources are developed to expand human possibility, how it might best foster a profusion of good jobs, how the arrival of think-tanks, institutes and associated, spin-off undertakings would expand the scope of the institution itself; how the matriculation of students would facilitate and produce a smart workforce, and how the founding of a hub of learning and culture would help us all recover from the deleterious consequences of much of the 20^th century in favor of a more harmonious, sustainable, regenerative, prosperous and life-enhancing environment called 21^st century Fall River. 

Imagine the transformation of neighborhood communities in Fall River that would occur among those who live in close proximity to the educational institution. The mill communities alone would be revitalized, restored, and home to many new and innovative companies. Imagine what would occur on the Narragansett Bay side of Fall River—the marina would have to ramp up its operations, the municipal wharf would become a leading economic force in the development of commerce on Upper Narragansett Bay, mills along the waterfront and throughout the City would house myriad small businesses and no-doubt feature to live/work communities on the premises. The train from South Station would play an undeniable role in the growth of the entire city (Due to arrive no later than 2017). Can't you imagine personal aviation vehicles landing on near-bye landing pads, bringing with them owners, commuters and new industries to town? Who'd have thunk it-- Mt. Trashmore may become a wind farm, a force to be reckoned with. Even the Industrial Park would want to consider another major expansion. In effect, the whole City would experience an awakening of positive and long-term consequence.

Furthermore, consider how the creation of such an institution right here in the City would go a long way toward bolstering the FREE initiative (Google Fall River Energy Enterprise), a multifaceted plan designed to position the City to become a leading center in the practical application of locally produced, sustainable electrical energy, among other objectives. Rapidly advancing wind and solar technologies (around the world) make Fall River a prize city for leading the region in this kind of practical economic development. This fact alone would generate a number of “value-added” benefits including the creation (for miles around) of an energized regional economy made of local, capable, globally competitive, educated, working professionals— like ripples of economic progress emanating from the epicenter of a placid lake into which a serious stone has been dropped; an international, forward-facing workforce, a community of entrepreneurially driven start-ups, a critical home to more mature companies expanding their R & D in the push to develop new products for the new century; still another population of non-profit organizations whose mission would in one way or another dovetail with both the University’s and that of the FREE initiative. What might well result is a new educational force in the region, serving as a positive and unmistakable means for garnering and distributing knowledge, information and accumulated wisdom on behalf of our grandchildren and their offspring at a time of high anxiety...when we would do well to make this happen. 

You may inquire, "What is the mission of the University of Fall River?" The mission is to matriculate students who can help the earth recover from the effects of the 20th century, who can help heal and steward an overpopulated earth based on accumulated learning, collective wisdom and the advance of technology.


My first announcement on this topic occurred some time ago, on March 13, 2008. Anyone interested may see the listing at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/03/prweb764074.htm

I enclose a few photos to express the idea more fully. A functional calendar highlighting the features of such a fictional institution can be seen by clicking on the link noted here, the blue-font, upper left corner. 

Then there is the topic of the 14,000-acre bio-reserve right here in City limits, and what to do with the 700-acre man-made reservoir that sits within. Let’s save this for another conversation. And oh, yes, forget Casinos, this is a siren's call, a ticket to nowhere.

I invite the Fall River City bloggers to have-at this idea of the University of Fall River. Come on team, you can do it-- give me your best shot.

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