Editorial: A new gauge to judge how MnSCU is doing

Last update: June 19, 2008 - 6:49 PM

Whether public or private, American colleges and universities are confronting increasing demands to prove that they are delivering the educational quality they promise. Bully for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for developing a clever, web-based way to publicly report and track performance on a variety of measures.

The MnSCU "accountability dashboard," available at www.mnscu.edu (click on "accountability" on the right side of the page), reports on such things as graduation and license-exam passing rates and employment of graduates in fields related to their study. It offers both systemwide and individual campus information.

The dashboard is still a work in progress; several dials are blank. But the at-a-glance assessments already featured are bound to attract attention and imitation.

Initial needle readings on the MnSCU dashboard pointed to a problem area that will be no surprise to Minnesota higher ed consumers. Tuition at the state's two-year colleges ranks among the highest in the nation compared with similar institutions. The needle on the affordability dial points to "needs attention" -- presumably, the attention of Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Legislature.

Beware injured Tigers

There are few adjectives that haven't been used to describe the accomplishments of Tiger Woods. And, after his latest, we may have to invent some new ones.

On Monday, after 91 grueling holes, Woods won his third U.S. Open and 14th major, defeating Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff. That alone is impressive.

Add to it that the tournament was his first since undergoing knee surgery shortly after the Masters. His limp and grimaces told the tale, but Tiger gritted his teeth and pulled out a victory. That makes it one for the ages.

And we didn't know half of the story.

Woods announced on Wednesday that he would miss the rest of the 2008 schedule so he could have reconstructive knee surgery and allow a double stress fracture in his leg to heal.

Think about it: Woods won the U.S. Open on the longest course in that tournament's history -- Torrey Pines -- over one of the best fields in golf with a torn ACL and a broken leg.

Simply put, it was one of the most courageous efforts in the history of sports and the greatest win of the 32-year-old's famed career.

If Woods comes back next year as a mere mortal, at least he left us a bit of magic against which future heroic efforts will be judged.

Da Kid wins da title

Despite our lousy season, many Timberwolves fans were more than casual observers of the finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. They were watching former Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett play for the Celtics, who won the series 4-2.

It's too bad it took a trade for KG to get his ring, but there's not a more deserving player in the league.

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