Malcom X said that "education is our passport to the future because tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today". Every day we must decide to prepare for the future. We are living in a time of accelerating change and complexity where changes in technology, communities, families, work, education, the environment; demographics and global interaction challenge us by outpacing our ability to adjust. One area of dramatic change is the continuing explosion of technology. A second complexity is the changing geopolitical structure that has followed the increase in global interaction. We frequently refer to the global village concept where the flow of technology, information, jobs, capital, people, and competition no longer respects geographic boundaries. A third complexity is the changing nature of work. These complexities and changes will continue to present us with new challenges and difficult choices.

           In a world of change, the purpose of education is not to remember and recite facts, figures, names, dates, data and specialized information; nor is it possessing a detailed knowledge or skill in a single specialized subject, art, science or profession. The purpose of education is not "to get a job".  Being educated means being able to think and deal effectively with the total process of living as well-adjusted, intellectually competent and self‑determining individuals. Thriving in this new world will require intellectual and emotional traits and abilities that entail excellence in evaluating and responding to conditions of change. The high school diploma is no longer sufficient in the midst of global competition and advanced degrees in higher education are increasingly desirable. Attending is not the same as achieving so students must be able to manage their college success.