Our View

Our View

Improving state’s college degree completion rates

One of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s goals during his term is to enhance public education, and to increase degree completion rates within the state’s higher education system, certainly a worthwhile endeavor.

Right now only 43 percent of high school graduates go on to some level of post-secondary degree or certificate, the governor said. Hutchinson’s goals is to move that 43 percent to 60 percent attainment by the year 2025, which will have a major impact on the state’s economy, while at the same time increase per-capita income.

The governor believes that in order to achieve that goal it will be necessary to change how higher education is funded and to design a funding formula based on graduation rates rather than attendance numbers.

The problem with the current funding formula is that it does nothing to encourage the state’s universities and community colleges to focus on ways to improve graduation rates.

It was last year that Hutchinson directed higher education leaders to come up with a new proposed formula that would be based on outcomes rather than enrollment. The governor said right now there is a model of funding for higher education that requires growth, but it does not always reward excellence.

Under Hutchinson’s plans there will be a major emphasis on accountability, student access and degree completion.

Hutchinson has made it clear that what he is attempting to do is in no way trying to punish any school but rather encourage college presidents, administrators, educators and staff to do a better job focusing on helping students obtain a certificate or degree.

The parameters are being set and the objectives are to increase degree attainment, reduce the remedial courses and the length of them and taking a better look at the cost of education in Arkansas.

Hutchinson believes that when these steps are successfully taken then, and only then, will there be rewards.

Once the governor’s committee submits its funding formula to the Higher Education Coordinating Board for approval it will then be up to lawmakers to approve during next year’s session of the Legislature, which is scheduled for January.

Let’s fact it, the higher education bureaucracy and government politics will certainly play a role in weather Hutchinson’s new funding formula passes its final hurdle.

This formula will place an enormous responsibility upon these universities and community colleges to show, by graduation results, the administration and educators are doing their jobs in a successful manner.

Success through accountability will certainly result in resistance from those individuals within the legislature and public education who, for one reason or another, find this demeaning, objectionable, unreasonable and financially detrimental, not to mention a hindrance to providing quality education.

In simple terms there are those who will feel this “pay for performance” is simply unreasonable and funding should not be determined based on successful graduation rates. Accountability should not be factored into the public tax dollars that are poured into the state’s universities and community colleges, some will argue.