A recent report detailing the nation's continual slide in math and science competencies confirms an old story among area college administrators.

"Leadership for Challenging Times," a study by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, says Americans between 25 and 34 are less educated than their parents and show a declining interest in math and science among students.

"Any study coming out today isn't saying a whole lot new that hasn't come out in the last 20 years," said Dr. John Jasinski, president of Northwest Missouri State University.

Dr. Jasinski said Northwest is helping to address the problem, partially with its Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing, where the state's brightest high school juniors and seniors earn an associate's degree. But he also points to Northwest's involvement in the statewide initiative - P20 Education Council - which addresses curriculum from early childhood through college.

"We better get math and science people turned on and ignited," he said.

Dr. Bob Vartabedian, president of Missouri Western State University, has dealt with the math and science issues for the last 15 years of his career in academics. He was part of a task force in North Carolina more than a decade ago that investigated the future of math and science competencies.

Many students are coming to college needing remedial assistance in math. Missouri Western, Dr. Vartabedian said, has had success in its developmental math program. He said it might be time to look at a similar, developmental science program.

"We've had some success in math and think we now need to open our arms to the purely scientific world as well," he said.

Dr. Vartabedian said the college is meeting with representatives from the St. Joseph School District to discuss a National Science Foundation grant for programming that will cut the problem off "at the pass."

"If we could get students going in a more positive direction on math and science competencies at an earlier age, then our burden would be lessened significantly," he said.

The AASCU study also calls for college presidents to do a better job of marketing their schools internationally to attract more international students. The feeling is that fewer international students on American soil lessens the appreciation of other cultures among American students.

Coincidentally, Dr. Vartabedian was fresh out of the campus' media center Thursday, taping an international marketing message to possible recruits. Missouri Western's international population equals fewer than two dozen, but the school is upping its attempts to attract more culture to campus next summer. Dr. Vartabedian is headed to China to cement some partnerships.

"There is a big focus on Asian countries right now," he said. "We're dealing with a huge population base and a huge interest."

About international 270 students from 31 countries attend Northwest. Dr. Jasinski said the university continues to have success in faculty recruitment. Northwest also began accepting applications in September for enrollment in a program called Intercultural U. The 12, 90-minute to two-hour sessions define and explore intercultural competencies, the mediation of intercultural conflicts and the design of developmental intercultural training.

Jimmy Myers can be reached

at jimmym@npgco.com.