Higher Ed Chief Calls For New Standard of Accountability

The State Commissioner of Higher Education thinks a new standard of accountability needs to be put in place for colleges, universities, and trade schools in the state system. But Commissioner Gregory Fitch says it can’t be done on-the-cheap. He wants to replace outputs with outcomes. But he says outcomes have to be based on the money put into the system. Higher education wants the Legislature to provide one-billion dollars in operating funds in the next budget. The Blunt Administration, however, has told higher education institutions to plan on budgtet cuts of as much as ten to 12 percent.