In an era of reduced
resources, how should states and institutions in the West allocate
funds to best support their higher education priorities (and what
exactly are our priorities)? What is the most effective way of
developing an individual state’s options, both with respect
to ensuring adequate revenue and containing costs? Who should
be part of the coalition of state partners to develop a course
of action for the state? What do constrained revenues and expenditures
mean for higher education and issues such as access, delivery,
and quality? How do one state’s fiscal problems impact neighboring
states?
WICHE Projects:
WICHE has several projects in the works that focus on finance
issues. “Changing Direction: Integrating Higher Education
Financial Aid and Financing Policy” focuses on coordinating
policies dealing with financial aid, financing, and appropriations;
the project, funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education, supports
the restructuring of these policies and practices to maximize
participation, access, and success for all students. A related
study will analyze how the tax structures in the West affect states’
abilities to meet public needs in the new economy. An initiative
by the WCET focuses
on implementing standard analytical principles to assess the costs
of higher ed’s use of technology; the project was developed
in partnership with the National Center for Higher Education Management
Systems with support from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary
Education.
