Post on 03-Jan-2020
Reform Efforts in Federal and State Higher Education
Policy
“May You Live In Interesting Times”
Proverbor
Curse
American Association of
Collegiate Registrars and
Admissions Officers
-----
Annual
MeetingMarch 31, 2014
Denver, CO
David LonganeckerPresident, Western
Interstate Commission for Higher Education
(WICHE)
www.wiche.edu
A Bit of ContextPostsecondary Policy -- the
American Way
In the beginning
There Was A Constitution
Tenth Amendment
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to
the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”
Postsecondary Policy -- the American Way
And thus,
Education, not being mentioned in the constitution was not a federal responsibility
In fact, American higher education was not initially a state responsibility
It was an elitist system, designed to educate an elite class, “as it should be.”
Postsecondary Policy -- the American Way
Mid-century (that would be 19th century) brought a new thrust
Driven not by constitutional responsibility, but by Federal interest and national need
The Land-Grant Act of 1862
To address a national economic imperative
Began the move toward a meritocratic system of higher education
Best and brightest of all classes
Scholarships for the most able
To What End – economic development
Postsecondary Policy -- the American Way
Mid-century (that would be 19th century) brought a new thrust
And the beginning of a substantial state role
Particularly in the West
So federal action drove the increasing state investment
Federal Postsecondary Policy --Access the American Way
Broad access became a “federal” goal in the mid 20th century.
Began as Economic Development
GI Bill
NDEA
Became Egalitarian with Great Society (HEA of 1965)
Beyond federal interest to federal responsibility – equal opportunities to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (Imbedded in the 14th Amendment)
Access the American Way
Federal Movement toward Egalitarian Policy
Need based aid – EOG (SEOG) to BEOG to Pell
Matched by National Movement toward Egalitarian Policy at the State Level
Geographic access
“as free as possible” – low tuition
Need based financial aid – with federal incentive
Community College Movement
Federal Postsecondary Policy --Access the American Way
Fifty Years of Incremental Creep
Initially HEA was real clear
Goal was clear – financial access
Strategy was clear
Grants for the most needy
Loans for the less needy
Nothing for the non needy
Federal Postsecondary Policy --Access the American Way
Fifty Years of Incremental Creep
Initially HEA was real clear
And it worked
Enrollment increased dramatically
Or did it
Radical increase at state level at same time
Dreaded DRAFT provided another enrollment driver
Let’s say it worked
Federal Postsecondary Policy --Access the American Way
Fifty Years of Incremental Creep
The first wave of reform – MISAA – the Middle Income Student Assistance Act (1978)
Espoused Goal – Expand opportunity to middle class
No evidence to support/ Strong evidence to oppose
Did it work depends on perspective
Actual Goal – Politically popular idea
Did work on authorization side
Not so much on appropriations side
Federal Postsecondary Policy --Access the American Way
Fifty Years of Incremental Creep
The second wave of reform – Middle Income at the expense of the most needy (1980s)
Loan Expansion
Over Pell Grants
Federal Postsecondary Policy --Access the American Way
Fifty Years of Incremental Creep
The third wave of reform (part one) –Program Improvement (early 90s)
Direct Lending
Improved accountability (SPREs & Default)
Mixed Bag on Results
The third wave of reform (part two) – Even more for the middle class (late 90s)
Tuition Tax Credits (on top of a bunch of other tax benefits that the crept in)
Federal Postsecondary Policy --Access the American Way
Fifty Years of Incremental Creep
The fourth wave of reform – Pell, Pell, and more Pell (the new Century)
More is Better and Never Enough
Deregulation fosters innovation
Effectiveness
Depends upon perspective
From my perspective – huge failure
State Postsecondary Policy --Access the American Way
Fifty Years of Incremental Creep
Very similar to federal progression
More is better and never enough
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$-
$2,000
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$8,000
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$12,000
$14,000
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Dollars
per
FTE
Public F
TE E
nro
llm
ent
(Millions)
Figure 3
Public FTE Enrollment and Educational
Appropriations per FTE, U.S., Fiscal 1987-2012
Educational Appropriations per FTE (constant $) Net Tuition Revenue per FTE (constant $)Note: Net tuition revenue used for capital debt service are included in the above figures.
Constant 2012 dollars adjusted by SHEEO Higher Education Cost Adjustment (HECA).
Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers
State Postsecondary Policy --Access the American Way
Fifty Years of Incremental Creep
Very similar to federal progression
More is better and never enough
Modest Commitment to Financial Aid
Despite gradual increase in reliance on tuition
Merit madness @ the state level to match federal infatuation with the “middle-income”
After the Bubble – Two Recession & Sobering Times
The shock of the economic downturn
Financial access eroded
Tuition increased – increasing need
But enrolments also increased – the economist’s dilemma
Completion became THE ISSUE
Slipping international competitiveness
Data showed the disconnect between access and success
Bringing Us to Today – A Renaissance of Sorts; Sort of.
The new agenda: Frugal Essentialism Shared at the Federal & State levels
Four Major Themes: Greater Efficiency Higher Quality Affordability Proven through Greater Accountability
Frugal Essentialism
Major Themes
----------
Greater Efficiency
Higher Quality
Affordability
Greater Accountability
Easier said than done:
Different Interpretations of what this means
Limited resources – the New Normal
And claims for those for the “status quo”
Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts (Sort of)
Key Strategies to Match the Themes
-----------
Innovation
Steering
Regulation/Mandates
Federal Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The Federal Completion Agenda
An Economic Imperative
Actions Imbed all 4 themes – Efficiency, Quality, Affordability, & Accountability
At least to some extent
Being driven by all three strategies –innovation, steering, and regulation
Both rhetorical and action oriented
Federal Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The Federal Biggies
Modifications to Current Law
1. Regulatory Reform
State Authorization, Gainful Employment, and the Credit Hour Rule
Touches on Accountability And Efficiency most significantly, but also Quality
Not really focused on affordability
Federal Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The Federal Biggies
Modifications to Current Law
2. Student Loan Reform
Interest rate adjustments
Repayment reforms – Income Based Repayment
Debt management (default rates)
Touches on Efficiency, Affordability, and Accountability, often through steering
Federal Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The Federal Biggies
Modifications to Current Law
3. Data Collection
Student Unit Data Base
IPEDS revisions
Ratings
Touches on affordability, efficiency, and accountability but not quality
Primarily through steering & regulation
Federal Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The Federal Biggies
Modifications to Current Law
4. Experimental Sites – Competency over Credits
Two institutions approved (Southern New Hampshire & Coursera) + WGU
More under consideration
Touches on Efficiency, Quality, and Affordability through Innovation
Federal Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The Federal Biggies
New Law – Reauthorization + (Dave’s Guesses)
5. Pell & Campus Based Reform
Retargeting Pell, or not
Consolidation
Performance & Need, or not
More, less, or about the same in resources
Touches on Affordability Efficiency, and Quality primarily through Steering & Regulation/Mandates
Federal Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The Federal Biggies
New Law – Reauthorization +
6. Tax Reform:
Consolidation
Elimination with Redirection of Funds
Elimination to reduce expenditures
Touches on Efficiency primarily through mandate
Federal Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The Federal Biggies
New Law – Reauthorization +
8. Real Partnerships
Stake in the game for students
Stake in the game for states
Stake in the game for institutions
Greater alignment between federal programs
Touches on Affordability, Efficiency and Accountability via mandated change
Federal Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The Federal Biggies
New Law – Reauthorization +
9. Reduced Federal Burden on Partners
Alternatives to accreditation, SARA
Scrubbing current statutes and regulations (Alexander)
Embrace Innovation (New is very cool).
Touches on Efficiency and Accountability
Rhetoric not consistent with reality
Federal Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
What’s Here And What Isn’t
Heavily focused on program improvement–better government (Efficiency & Accountability)
Reasonably aligned with Completion Agenda (affordability and access to success)
Not much associated with the “quality” agenda
State Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The State Biggies
1. Performance Funding
Capturing Attention of Governors, Legislatures, and Governing Boards
Touches on Accountability, Efficiency, and Quality through steering
Not affordability, often ignoring financial aid and tuition
Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The State Biggies
2. Infatuation with Innovation as a Goal
Technology to reduce costs:
Cheap courses, Cheap degrees
Technology to increase quality:
Improve student learning (NCAT, MOOCs)
Improve remediation
Innovation for innovation’s sake
Touches on Affordability, Efficiency, and Quality, but not Accountability
Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The State Biggies
3. Quality,
Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The State Biggies
3. Quality, if we only know what it was.
Use of technology to enhance quality
Reinventing Remediation
The Completion Agenda
Employment as a metric
Requirements for measuring student learning
Also touches on accountability, primarily through innovation and steering
Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The State Biggies
4. Data and its uses -- SURDS
Now a Federal Mandate (Public, not Private)
Like Feds, for Consumer Information & Accountability
But also for Improvement (predictive analytics)
Tied to the quality agenda
Touches on Accountability and Quality, primarily through regulation and steering.
Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The State Biggies
5. Financial Aid Reform @ State Level
A renewed focus on need-based financial aid
Interest in blending need and performance (now not in the past)
Partnership with federal efforts
Partnership with non-public sectors, some times
Touches on Affordability, Efficiency, and Quality, primarily through innovation and steering.
Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The State Biggies6. Something for Nothing Foolishness
The antithesis of the rational financial aid/financing reform
Examples:
The $10,000 degree
Free Community College
Pay It Forward
Thought of as Progressive; actually Regressive
Touch on Affordability, but counter to Efficiency
Considered innovative and steering
Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The State Biggies
7. Free the Beast –Let the Market Work
Autonomy in exchange for Accountability
Decentralization of Authority
Promise, but don’t deliver
Different perspectives on the compact
Couldn’t live with consequences
Touches on Efficiency and Accountability through innovation and deregulation
Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The State Biggies
8. The quest for new revenue
Endowment as the answer
Full pay students from elsewhere
Other states
Other countries
Full pay students from home state
Touches on efficiency and thought of as innovation
The Biggist Biggy for you folks
Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The State Biggies
9. Reliance on Non-public providers to help serve the public good
Independent Sector: more and more seen as a partner
For profit Sector: Substantial ambivalence (great fodder for ambitious Attn Generals)
Touches on Efficiency primarily via steering and regulation (SARA)
Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
The State Biggies
10.Interstate Collaboration
The Four Regional Compacts
State Authorization Reciprocity
Multi-state Data Exchange
Interstate Student Exchange – Transfer Passport
Touches on Efficiency, Affordability, Quality, and Accountability through Innovation, Steering and Regulation
State Activities in Today’s New Renaissance of Sorts
What’s Here And What’s Not
It’s All Here
Just not consistently so – 50 approaches
Need to focus on
A Change Agenda
Based on Evidence, Not Hunches
Focused on the Public Agenda
Charting New Direction for the New Millennium
The Era of Frugal Essentialism
Creating more access and success
With very little more in resources
Cheap isn’t the answer
But less expensive/more productive is
And the policy agenda is, indeed focused in the right direction
THANKS!