A new way for the state to support its 13 institutions of higher education is making its way through the state senate. Senators want to tie funding to performance by its four-year institutions, its community colleges, and its state technical college. The standards will look at retention of students, graduation rates, quality of courses, and other factors. The schools will be compared to schools of similar purpose.
Senate Education Committee Chairman David Pearce of Warrensburg expects the formula to change the way post-secondary education works…
Savannah Senator Brad Lager wants to withhold ten percent of a school’s funding, then give it to the school if it meets career placement goals set by the Department of Higher Education.
Another ten percent will be withheld, then given to schools that meet other performance standards.
Pearce says job placement is only part of the bill. He says the reforms should produce other benefits, too.
The bill requires the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to set the new standards by July first, next year. The standards will be reviewed and re-set every five years.
If the bill makes it through the House and is signed by the governor, the new standards will go into effect for the 2014-2015 school year.