Owens, experts call for accountability in higher ed

by | Oct 18, 2024 | Policy

Owens, experts call for accountability in higher ed

Congressman Burgess Owens, Western Governors University President Scott Pulsipher, and American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Beth Akers say students deserve improved transparency and accountability in higher education.

Student Outcomes Prioritized

Higher education institutions should be held accountable for the economic value they provide to students, according to experts. Key metrics suggested include completion rates, post-graduation employment, and return on investment.

Congressman Owens advocated for a free market approach, stating, “We have to start thinking quite differently…Let’s bring the innovators to the plate.”

Transparency and Accountability Measures

Dr. Akers highlighted a significant barrier to transparency: “Lifting [the ban on merging IRS and Department of Education data], which is part of the legislation that we’re seeing today in both the House and the Senate, would enable us to have really the perfect data to hold institutions accountable.”

President Pulsipher emphasized the need for consistent, program-level accountability measures across all institutions. He argued that current regulations often hinder innovation by forcing conformity to traditional models instead of focusing on outcomes.

The experts agreed that while access for disadvantaged populations is crucial, it shouldn’t compromise accountability. Dr. Akers noted, “Giving someone access to enrollment at an institution with poor outcomes is not doing them any favors.”

Legislative Reform Needed

As new legislation is considered, the experts stress that meaningful reform in higher education accountability should be central. They call for policies that prioritize student outcomes, encourage innovation, and increase transparency for both students and taxpayers.

Navigating the Financial Aid Maze: Expert Insights from James Bergeron

Navigating the Financial Aid Maze: Expert Insights from James Bergeron

by | Oct 11, 2024 | Policy

Navigating the Financial Aid Maze: Expert Insights from James Bergeron

James Bergeron, President of the National Council of Higher Education Resources, highlights four key issues in higher education finance:

  1. Student loan repayment and on-ramp challenges
  2. Legal hurdles facing the SAVE plan
  3. Broad student loan forgiveness debates
  4. FAFSA rollout complications

Why it matters

These issues are creating confusion and uncertainty for students, families, and institutions.

The big picture

Bergeron advocates for simplification and transparency in financial aid, including:

  • Streamlining repayment plans
  • Standardizing financial aid offer forms
  • Expanding Pell Grant eligibility for short-term programs

What’s next

Bergeron advises higher ed leaders to:

  • Drive innovation at the state and local level
  • Focus on workforce development and accountability

The bottom line

Institutions must take the lead in improving financial aid accessibility and aligning education with workforce needs.

Presidents Forum outlines higher ed innovations for next POTUS

by | Oct 7, 2024 | Innovation, Outcomes and Accountability, Policy

Presidents Forum outlines higher ed innovations for next POTUS

Why it matters

Higher Education has struggled to adapt to changing student demographics and needs, emerging technologies, and effective distance education options. The new presidential administration and department of education must energetically engage in practices that promote student success in the ever-changing higher education landscape.

Go deeper

Dr. David Andrews, chancellor of the University of Massachusetts and chairman of the Presidents Forum, and Dr. David Schejbal, president of Excelsior University, outlined eight important areas of focus to improve higher education and ensure the U.S. economy has the workforce required to remain a global leader:

  • Accessibility – Accessibility is about more than just affordability. The changing student population requires flexibility in the modality of their educational experiences.
  • Institutional Mergers and Acquisitions – The acquisition and merger process is drawn out and it limits an institution’s ability to provide a better student experience. The Department of Education must provide initial guidance on whether it views a proposed merger as a possibility or not.
  • Value-Added measurement in outcome metrics – Highly selective institutions will naturally see higher graduation and retention rates. The Department of Education must implement a value-added metric system to fairly evaluate open enrollment institutions.
  • Competency and output based adjustments – The regulatory environment was built focusing on inputs rather than outputs. Students should earn aid and credentials based on what they have learned, not how long they spent learning it.
  • Reauthorize the Higher Education Act with new focus points – The Higher Education Act, which was intended to be renewed every 5 years, has not been reauthorized since 2008. The new administration should prioritize a reauthorization that focuses on competency based evaluations and learning outcomes.
  • Data Sharing and Transparency – Promoting greater data sharing between institutions, state governments, and the federal government will allow for stronger analysis on student financial outcome data.
  • State Reciprocity Agreements – The near-unanimous agreement among 49 out of 50 states is a rare occurrence. NC-SARA has proven to be an effective agreement, warranting ongoing support and endorsement.
  • Recalibrate our understanding of a College Student – Adult students, working learners, and mid-career students are the new norm. These students require a different set of tools in order to help them succeed.

Data-Driven Revolution: Beth Akers on Reshaping Higher Education

Data-Driven Revolution: Beth Akers on Reshaping Higher Education

by | Oct 4, 2024 | Innovation, Policy

Data-Driven Revolution: Beth Akers on Reshaping Higher Education

Marty Carpenter: Having Accountability in Higher Education

by KSL Inside Sources

From the Inside Sources Podcast

The big picture

Beth Akers, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the critical role of data in improving higher education outcomes and decision-making.

Key takeaways

  • Data transparency is crucial: Akers emphasizes the need for comprehensive data on student outcomes to help prospective students make informed decisions about their education.
  • College Transparency Act: This proposed legislation aims to require colleges to collect and report detailed data on enrollment, completion rates, and post-college earnings.
  • Addressing “data blind spots”: Current limitations in higher education data make it difficult to assess if institutions are serving all students equitably.
  • Return on investment: Better data can help students evaluate the potential value of their college education and choose programs more likely to lead to successful outcomes.
  • Balancing privacy and transparency: Akers acknowledges the need to protect student privacy while advocating for increased data availability to improve educational outcomes.

What’s next

As debates around student loan forgiveness continue, the push for greater accountability and transparency in higher education is likely to gain momentum. The implementation of data-driven policies could significantly impact how students, families, and policymakers approach higher education decisions in the future.

WGU President Advocates for Accountability and Bold Reform

WGU President Advocates for Accountability and Bold Reform

by | Sep 30, 2024 | Innovation, Policy

WGU President Advocates for Accountability and Bold Reform

Why it matters

Higher education institutions need to be held accountable for student outcomes and embrace innovation to remain relevant and valuable.

The big picture

President Pulsipher emphasizes two main points:

  • Increasing accountability for outcomes: Institutions should prove their value by demonstrating how they improve students’ lives.
  • Encouraging innovation: Policies should incentivize new models that expand access, lower costs, and increase relevance to future work.

By the numbers

WGU measures its impact through the “Factor Graduate Return”:

  • Graduates see a median 26x return on their investment
  • Some programs yield over 50x return
  • Even lower-return programs in education see 12-15x returns

Between the lines

President Pulsipher argues that higher education should democratize opportunity, not stratify society further.

The bottom line

President Pulsipher argues that higher education should democratize opportunity, not stratify society further.

Delivering Lift

Delivering Lift

by | Sep 26, 2024 | Innovation, Policy

Delivering Lift

The big picture

UMass Global Chancellor David Andrews advises the Department of Education to focus on improving student outcomes and experiences while maintaining accountability.

Key Points

  • Challenge legacy metrics like seat time and Carnegie units
  • Rethink “regular and substantive interaction” for the on-demand learning era
  • Develop metrics that measure student growth or “lift” rather than raw outcomes
  • Implement real-time predictive analytics to support struggling students
  • Increase investment in innovation pilots, especially for working adult learners

The bottom line

The Department of Education should take more risks in piloting innovative approaches and work more collaboratively with accreditors to streamline processes and foster innovation.