Mitch Daniels – Leading by Example to Further the Common Good

Purdue University president Mitch Daniels wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post on May 25, 2020, in which he made a vigorous argument for the necessity of re-opening the institution in the fall, but only with a host of protections against the spread of the novel coronavirus in place.

The op-ed came at a time of debate in the world of higher education over whether or not to re-open in the midst of the highly contagious pandemic disease.

Most colleges and universities ceased in-person classes in the spring, moving to online instruction and canceling graduation ceremonies. The fall semester is the question now. Some have opted to open their research facilities first and to bring in-person classroom instruction fully on board later, while offering classes remotely. Others have decided to re-open for normal operations immediately while following recommended guidelines from health authorities.

A realistic assessment

Daniels’ op-ed made it clear that he has thought through his plans carefully with a focus on achieving a balance that meets everyone’s needs while protecting public health; giving students the high-quality education they deserve; and respecting the rights of students, faculty, and staff to protect their well-being while engaging in the complex work of teaching and learning. Daniels wrote that it would be an “unacceptable breach of duty” not to re-open in the fall due to two primary factors.

First, the past few months of medical research has shown that the risk of serious complications and death to young adults from the coronavirus are statistically very small, lower than the risk for this age group from accidents and cancer. While the CEO of a nursing home would need to make widely different calculations, a university president serves the needs of an entirely different demographic.

Additionally, Purdue’s 45,000 students and their parents have demonstrated, through an influx of new and renewing tuition deposits, that they want to be on campus this fall. Freshman tuition deposits for fall 2020 have exceeded those of last year, and those for upperclassmen have remained steady. To fail to listen to this demand would, Daniels wrote, be irresponsible to the very stakeholders whose future is in part dependent on a university that is responsive to their needs.

Safety measures

But in order to successfully open in a way that ensures that everyone stays safe, a number of major changes need to occur. Daniels is just as committed to rolling these changes out thoughtfully and strategically under the guidance of public health experts.

His team is building out a series of preventive measures—at a cost of tens of millions of dollars—that include the installation of plexiglass barriers in classrooms and lecture halls, and physical changes to dorm rooms that make social distancing easier among roommates. In fact, all shared spaces are being reconfigured to support greater social distancing and lower simultaneous occupancy.

To support the need for smaller groups on campus, large gatherings like concerts and assemblies will be off-limits for the time being. At least a third of the university’s staff will be working remotely, and all larger classes will be available for both online and in-person instruction. The move will also support the need of students with underlying conditions that put them into higher-risk groups.

Purdue will also conduct extensive testing for the virus, and contact tracing for anyone who tests positive. And each incoming student will receive a special kit containing a face mask and a thermometer for self-monitoring.

In his testimony before the United States Senate as part of a panel of university leaders who discussed their plans for safe re-opening, Daniels detailed the rigorous process that he is putting in place. And he has communicated his reasons—and the necessary procedures—throughout the Purdue community.

A spirit of common sacrifice

Importantly, Daniels is requesting that every member of the university community step up to protect the health and safety of others. He is asking everyone to wear masks indoors and in more densely packed spaces, to practice consistent rigorous hand-washing and other recommended sanitary procedures, and to maintain proper social distancing. He wants to inspire the young people he serves with an ethic of service and sacrifice on behalf of their teachers and others who may be more vulnerable, and is asking them to take a pledge to put the welfare of the group as a whole before any temporary personal inconvenience to themselves.

Daniels has consistently exemplified this spirit of putting the needs of others first. As Purdue’s president since 2013, he has implemented tuition freezes, reductions in the cost of room and board, and a number of other initiatives that open admission to students in need.

Under Daniels’ leadership, tuition will not increase in the 2020-21 academic year, which is the eighth consecutive year that it has stayed flat. Taking inflation into account, the cost to attend Purdue is lower than what it was eight years ago.

At Purdue, the cost of undergraduate tuition for Indiana residents is less than $10,000 a year. Daniels believes that by 2021, families will have saved nearly $500 million on the cost of sending their children to college, as opposed to what they would have spent if Purdue had raised its tuition and fees in line with the average cost at other universities.

As another example of Daniels’ dedication to helping others, Purdue offers an income-share agreement program that aims to alleviate the burden of student debt. The program allows students to borrow what they need to pursue an education, and in turn they pay the university a percentage of their income for a period after graduation.

A record of achievement

In 2004, Daniels became the governor of Indiana and served in this capacity until he accepted his current position with Purdue. Daniels brought a business focus to his leadership of the state. A 1971 graduate of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Daniels earned his JD from Georgetown University and gained experience in both private industry and government. He served as Senator Richard Lugar’s chief of staff and as a senior advisor to President Ronald Reagan prior to joining the George W. Bush administration.

As governor, Daniels gained renown for transforming Indiana’s deficit into a fiscal surplus, cutting administrative waste, establishing a program of health insurance for uninsured adults, and establishing record acreage numbers of protected wetlands and wildlife refuges. He defied the party line by publicly saying that, in the interest of cost-effectiveness, even the GOP platform that emphasized tax loopholes and defense allocations deserved to be critically examined.

Daniels also garnered respect across the political spectrum for taking a strong stance on making the government more compassionate. At the 2011 Conservative Political Action Conference, he told the group that the meaning of the American promise to every person lies in the potential for upward mobility. He said that his party must demonstrate a spirit of caring for Americans who continue to struggle to achieve their dream of moving into the middle class.