1	Myth Busters: WICHE LAC (Legislative Advisory Committee) October 10, 2007 Denver, Colorado David Longanecker President Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)
2	Myth or Reality Myth: “a fiction or half-truth esp. one that forms part of the ideology of a society.” What we have come to believe Not always wrong Not always fact-free But often not based on current evidence
3	Myth or Reality -- #1 Not to Worry: The U.S. is the best educated country in the World On Quality The market test – foreign students 475,169 (2001/NCES) in the U.S. – 4% 225,722 in the U.K. – 11% 199,132 in Germany – 10% 147,402 in France – 7% 64,103 in Russia – 2% 63,637 in Japan – 2%
4	Myth or Reality -- #1 Not to Worry: The U.S. is the best educated country in the World On Quality Research Productivity Shanghai Jiao Tong University Ratings 18 of top 25 -- U.S. Universities Student Learning – We can claim #1 So can everyone else We don’t measure this – the Measuring Up incomplete OECD – PISA Like Measures Being Contemplated
5	Myth or Reality -- #1 Not to Worry: The U.S. is the best educated country in the World On Quantity High on initial participation 56% go on immediately after graduation (NCHEMS/NCES) 65-70% within 5 years Or maybe not Only 70% graduate [70% X 65% = 46%] 46% of 18-24 year olds have participated in postsecondary education (NCES/Census) Lousy on Throughput 16^th of 27 OECD Countries Measured in Degrees/100 Students Enrolled
6	International Competitive/Declining Performance: Percent of Adults with an Associate or Higher Degree
7	Myth or Reality # 1-A Not to Worry: The West Leads The Rest On Quality Proof of the Pudding on Research: 7 of the top 25 in the West – Stanford (2), UC Berkeley (3), Cal Tech (5), UCLA (11), UCSD (12), UW (14), UCSF (16) The Rest East: 7 (1 quasi-public, 6 privates) Mid West: 3 (2 publics, one private) South: 1 (private) Evidence on Student Learning Still incomplete On Quantity
8	Differential National Performance: Differences in College Attainment (Associate and Higher) Between Young and Older Adults—Percent of Adults with College Degrees
9	Myth or Reality #2 Our Western tradition of low tuition has kept College affordable How we compare on tuition 2-Year Institutions Tuition & Fees (06-07) US: $2,272 WICHE: $2,237 WICHE w/o CA: $2,345 4-Year Institutions Tuition 7 Fees (06-07) US: $5,836 WICHE: $4,351
10	Myth or Reality #2 Our Western tradition of low tuition has kept College affordable But tuition isn’t the half of it (literally). The Student’s Budget is about $12,000 for 2-Year College Students $15,000 for 4-Year College Students Ergo, need-based financial aid is essential for true affordability
11	Myth or Reality #3 Our Western tradition of low tuition has kept College affordable And how does the West measure up on need-based financial aid Not so Well U.S.: $446 WICHE: $386 The Champions Washington -- $695 California -- $514 The Emerging Champions Hawaii, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wyoming The Promising Prospects Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Utah Blending Need with Merit based on preparing well [CO & WA] NO; WE’RE NOT PARTICULARLY AFFORDABLE
12	Myth or Reality #4 We’re also more frugal, so we get more for our buck That depends – some do some don’t
13	Performance Relative to Total Funding per FTE – Overall Index Scores for State Higher Education Systems (NCHEMS)
14	Student Pipeline Result, 2002
15	Myth or Reality #4 We’re also more frugal, so we get more for our buck And Cheap Isn’t Always Efficient Can mean Leaving Money On The Table Bad News California Community Colleges leave substantial federal Pell & Tax Credits unused Good News Nevada and Hawaii got smart & modified policies Oregon built federal component in, and is now benefiting
16	Myth or Reality #5 Not to worry – not everyone needs to go to college Myth #5-A: Not everyone needs to go on to postsecondary education. True but large majority need to: 55% to 80% of future jobs will require some postsecondary credential ACT says only about one-quarter adequately prepared to succeed today Myth #5-B: If all aren’t going, all don’t have to take a rigorous curriculum ACT research – skills for success in college = skills for success in a living wage/non college job. One solution: A rigorous default curriculum
17	Myth or Reality #6 The only problem is the diminution of State Support Early 21^st Century Was A Bad Time Between 02 & 04, 12 of the 15 WICHE states experienced a decrease in state appropriations to higher education. Four states – Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon – experienced cuts of greater than 10% But not so bad recently. Between 05 & 06, every WICHE state received more. And most received substantially more than “inflation”
18	Myth or Reality #6 The only problem is the diminution of State Support But we all know the states contribute a smaller share The math game: Increase the denominator (all resources) and the same numerator (the states piece) yields a smaller state share. The “State Resources” shell game % of total state resources has declined WICHE: 12.6% in ’96 / 11.6% in ‘06 Down in 12 of 15 States Ratio of H.E. approp to Tax Revenues WICHE: 10.4% in ’94 / 11.8% in ’03 Up in 8 of 15 States
19	Myth or Reality #6 The only problem is the diminution of State Support When Myth Meets Reality – The Legitimate Case That State Support Has Declined Funding Per Student has declined
20	Total Educational Revenues per FTE by Component, US, Fiscal 1991-2006, Constant Dollars
21	Myth or Reality #7 (the last, I promise) No worries, we have weathered the storm The Driving Factors are The Economy The Demographics
22	Projected State and Local Budget Deficits as a Percent of Revenues, 2013
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24	That’s all there is, There is no more. Thanks for listening and now for sharing.