higher education finance projects at wiche david longanecker executive director wiche

Higher Education Finance Projects Higher Education Finance Projects at WICHEat WICHE

David LonganeckerDavid LonganeckerExecutive DirectorExecutive Director

WICHEWICHE

Two major initiativesTwo major initiatives

• Changing Direction: Integrating Higher Education Financial Aid and Financing Policy

• Finding the Will and the Way: Providing Higher Education Within Revenue and Expenditure Constraints

WICHE’s Policy WorkWICHE’s Policy Work

Goal

Better, more informed decision making on issues germane to higher education

Changing DirectionChanging Direction

Focus: Financial aid and financing

Purpose: To examine how to structure financial aid and financing policies and practices to maximize participation, access, and success for students.

Partners: ACE & SHEEO

Funding: The Lumina Foundation for Education

Changing DirectionChanging DirectionFinancial aid and financing policies are usually dealt with as discreet issues rather than reflecting the interrelated nature of financial aid, tuition, and appropriations.

Appropriations

FinancialAid

Tuition

Financial Aid

Appropriations

Tuition

Changing DirectionChanging Direction

Questions: How can policymakers at all levels effectively

integrate tuition, financial aid, and appropriations polices in ways that promote student participation and completion?

What kind of information and research is needed to strengthen policies and ensure their continuing effectiveness?

Changing DirectionChanging Direction

How well do the policies and practices of the student financing system serve the needs of different population groups?

How do students currently pay for college?

How do states establish an appropriate balance between direct support for high quality educational programs and a level of financial assistance that enables students to participate in those programs?

Changing DirectionChanging DirectionPhase 1 – Discovery and Development (November 2001 to May 2003)

• Conduct a state financial aid, tuition, and appropriations policy and data inventory (SHEEO)

• Survey state policymakers• Establish a national advisory board on research issues• Commission research papers• Identify states for case studies – AZ, OR, MO, FL, CT• Conduct workshop with case study states • Cosponsor state roundtables

Phase 2 – May 2003 to December 2004 (projected)

Finding the Will and the WayFinding the Will and the Way

Focus: State tax structures

Purpose: To examine the impact of revenue and expenditure constraints on the future viability of public services—especially higher education—in the West.

Funding: Grants from the Ford Foundation are supporting a short-term planning phase

Finding the Will and the WayFinding the Will and the Way

• Current state tax and revenue structures are ill-suited for the new West’s knowledge-based economy

• Additionally, initiatives and referenda are reducing states’ revenue generating capacity through tax cuts and tax spending limitations

Finding the Will and the WayFinding the Will and the Way

The environment:– Uncertain revenue shortfalls– Additional cutbacks– Revenue and expenditure restrictions

Finding the Will and the WayFinding the Will and the Way

Questions: What do constrained revenues and

expenditures mean for access, delivery, and quality of higher education?

Who should be part of the coalition of state partners to develop a course of action for the state? Is there a legitimate role for Higher Education in this coalition?

Finding the Will and the WayFinding the Will and the Way

What are the regional implications of new limitations on resources? How does one state’s fiscal problems impact neighboring states?

Finding the Will and the WayFinding the Will and the Way

Phase 1

Commission a study of revenue streams and revenue policies in the 15 Western states

Convene a focus group of researchers, policymakers, state higher education executive officers, education leaders

Finding the Will and the WayFinding the Will and the Way

Collect and analyze recent and long-term revenue trends – State by State

Use this baseline information to examine the consequences of these trends

Finding the Will and the WayFinding the Will and the Way

By the end of Phase 1:

• Develop a discussion document

• Initiate dialogues with WICHE Commissioners and other constituents prior to 2003 legislative session

• Identified a few states to engage in more extended, in-depth study of their revenue polices and sources and explore changes, if needed

Finance Policy PartnersFinance Policy Partners

ACEAGBBrookings InstituteCSG-WESTNASBONCSLNelson A Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentNGASHEEO

Contact InformationContact Information

Cheryl Blanco

303.541.0221

cblanco@wiche.edu