budgets

State Higher Education Finance FY 2010 [USA]

On 03/09/2011, in budgets, business side of he, higher education, leadership, legislatures / government / legal, United States, by Daniel Christian

Conclusion:

States and the nation as a whole face challenging higher education financing and policy decisions. The pattern during the past three decades includes cyclical downturns in per student funding resulting from economic recessions, followed by recovery and growth. State and local revenue for higher education per student has declined and then recovered, often exceeding previous levels.

The SHEF studies for 2006, 2007, and 2008 indicate a three-year increase in state and local support for public higher education relative to inflation and student demand, following a period of declining public investment in higher education between 2001 and 2005. The three-year recovery abruptly ended when, in 2008, the nation suffered the worst recession since the Great Depression. Past experience and current indicators suggest that state revenue will recover slowly in the next few years. Despite the success of ARRA funding in cushioning the recession’s impact, the continuing fiscal crisis beginning in 2008 clearly poses a severe threat to the strength of higher education in the United States.

Such recurring budgeting cycles can be challenging and discouraging. The resiliency of state support for higher education, however, suggests its importance to our future is widely recognized. But there is no question that the fiscal challenges facing the nation will require both creativity and commitment from policymakers and educators. The data and analysis of this and future SHEF reports are intended to help higher education leaders and state policymakers focus on how discrete, year-to-year decisions fit into broader patterns of change over time, and how each step contributes—or not—to meeting longer-term objectives.

Tagged with: budgetary • business side of he • higher education • leadership • legislation • United States

If higher ed is not in a game-changing environment, then how do you explain this (increasingly-prevalent) line of questioning?

On 03/07/2011, in budgets, business side of he, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, future of higher education, game-changing environment, liberal arts, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, student-related, by Daniel Christian

.IMPORTANT NOTES FROM DSC:

I went through a liberal arts degree in college (Economics) and I work for a Christian liberal arts college. As such, one can tell that I greatly endorse and believe in the benefits of a liberal arts education; such an education is extremely valuable and helpful, no matter which career path(s) a student may choose to pursue after college.

However, it has become clear that the costs of education are getting out of hand — and out of the reach of a growing number of people. Now with the Internet and alternative methods of delivery in the mix — and the current model continuing to show itself as being vulnerable and unsustainable for a growing number of people — there is a potent equation for change in the air.

So…if you don’t believe we are in a game-changing environment, how do you explain this (increasingly-prevalent) line of questioning? (Though most of the articles I’ve seen do not use the word “dead”, the flavor/meaning of such articles and postings is much the same.)

Tagged with: budgetary • business side of he • cost of getting an education • dangers of the status quo • future of higher education • game-changing environment • liberal arts • new business models in he • student-related • Walmart of Education

Public universities seek more autonomy as financing from states shrinks

On 03/03/2011, in budgets, business side of he, game-changing environment, higher education, legislatures / government / legal, new business models, universities, by Daniel Christian

Public universities seek more autonomy as financing from states shrinks — from the NYT by Tamar Lewin

With states providing a dwindling share of money for higher education, many states and public universities are rethinking their ties.

The public universities say that with less money from state coffers, they cannot afford the complicated web of state regulations governing areas like procurement and building, and that they need more flexibility to compete with private institutions.

Tagged with: budgetary • business side of he • game-changing environment • higher education • legislation • new business models in he • universities

Game-changing environment; again, from the budgetary side of things

On 02/28/2011, in budgets, change, dangers of the status quo, future, game-changing environment, K-12 related, Michigan, online learning, organizational change, United States, by Daniel Christian

(CA) A Season for Turnaround — from Conditions of Education in California by Alan Daly
…the federal government offers four ‘turnaround’ models:

Turnaround:
The Local Education Agency (LEA) replaces the principal and rehires no more than 50% of the staff; gives the principal greater autonomy; and implements other prescribed and recommended strategies.
Restart:
The LEA converts or closes and reopens a school under a charter school operator, charter management organization, or education management organization.
School closure:
The LEA closes the school and enrolls the students in other schools in the LEA that are higher achieving.
Transformation:
The LEA replaces the principal; implements rigorous staff evaluation and development; institutes comprehensive instructional reform; increases learning time; and provides greater operational flexibility and support of the school.

In California the ‘transformation’ model is the one most frequently chosen.

(NY) Layoffs would hit some schools much harder — from WSJ

(MI) Michigan orders DPS to make huge cuts –– Detroit News
Bobb told to consolidate services, close half of schools to end deficit

(WI) Flexibility — But for (and From) Whom? — from InsideHigherEd.com

EDUCAUSE Now – Show #12 – The Age of Budget Cuts — The Tower and the Cloud

Tagged with: budgetary • change • dangers of the status quo • future • game-changing environment • K-12 • Michigan • online learning • organizational change • United States

Google Apps taking commercial vendors to school

On 02/23/2011, in budgets, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, education technology, Google, higher education, innovation, K-12 related, tools, vendors, by Daniel Christian

Google Apps taking commercial vendors to school — from blogs.wsj.com by Michael Hickins

The Google Apps for Education application set is gaining traction among school districts across the country, in many cases replacing commercial vendors like Microsoft. Google signed up Oregon and Iowa for its suite of Web-based email and collaboration applications last May and June, respectively, and three other states have joined since then, most recently New York State, according to Shan Sinha, group product manager for Google Apps.

There are now more than 10 million students using Google Apps, including many of New York State’s 3.1 million student population, said Sinha. In addition to the applications used to do things like send email or edit documents collaboratively in real time, the suite includes access to third-party applications like Endgrade Gradebook and lesson plan software for teachers, and administration applications like Class.io or Thinkwave for IT administrators. The apps are available through the EDU category of the Google Apps marketplace.

Also see:

From DSC:

A note to Google — don’t pull any of these applications like you did with Google Wave. If you persuade people to go to your tools, you can’t pull the rug out from under peoples’ feet.
With that said, I appreciate your constant pursuit of innovation.

Tagged with: budgetary • cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related • educational technology • Google • higher education • innovation • K-12 • tools • vendors

Tagged with: budgetary • K-12 • Michigan

Tagged with: art • budgetary • higher education • K-12

Standard & Poor’s Report on Not-For-Profit Higher Ed Sector – Feb 14, 2011

On 02/18/2011, in budgets, business side of he, future of higher education, by Daniel Christian

Overview:

While the short-term rating outlook is mixed, the sector’s long-term credit profile is stable.
Operating results for 2011 will likely be uneven despite the economy’s recovery.
We expect an equal number of upgrades and downgrades in 2011.
Key challenges include growing competition, state funding cuts, higher expenses and liabilities and continued tuition and scholarship pressures.

The outlook remains mixed for the not-for-profit U.S. higher education sector in fiscal 2011, according to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. We believe that operating results and demand will likely be uneven, and institutions with high debt and limited liquidity could experience severe stress. Still, we believe that the long-term credit profile of many rated institutions remains stable, and that many institutions will perform favorably over the next year.

As a whole, Standard & Poor’s does not expect public universities to underperform private universities despite likely cuts in state funding. However, we may see some public colleges and universities consider consolidation or consider mergers with their peers.

We believe that the credit performance of not-for-profit colleges and universities generally remains tied to an institution’s financial resources, demand, and management, rather than industry risk. Therefore, we expect overall credit trends to be mixed for the balance of 2011, with small pockets of distress and larger pockets of strength.

— originally saw this via Academic Impressions e-newsletter

Tagged with: budgetary • business side of he • future of higher education

The Higher Education Landscape — by Mel Netzhammer

On 02/15/2011, in accreditation, assessment, budgets, business side of he, change, curriculum, higher education, learning, legislatures / government / legal, policy, staying relevant, teaching & learning, trends, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
As I was reviewing Mel’s presentation, I couldn’t help but think of the amazing amount of pressure colleges and universities will be under towards “standardization” — or at minimum, institutions may need to accept much of what has occurred at another school. The costs are too high not to — and the expectations from parents, students, legislatures, and the general public may force this to occur.

Along these lines, I think that the dynamics of teaching and learning change when we talk about the cost of an education going from a few thousand to 150,000+ for 4 years. Expectations are one thing that change; Mel’s presentation points to this a bit. But I also wondered…how will institutions of higher education differentiate themselves if these pressures for portability continue to build? How will they keep from becoming a commodity?

Also noteworthy was Mel’s slide re: what students can ultimately DO as a result of their educations — this may become more of the Holy Grail of Assessment.

Tagged with: accreditation • adding value/not a commodity • assessment • budgetary • curriculum • financial aid • higher education • learning • legislation • policy • staying relevant • teaching & learning • trends

Will higher education split?

On 02/11/2011, in budgets, change, changing business models, cost of getting a degree, disruption, future of higher education, game-changing environment, legislatures / government / legal, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, teaching & learning, by Daniel Christian

Will higher education split? — from Stephen Downes

Excerpt:

Sir John Daniel and Stamenka Uvali-Trumbi asks provocative question: “Will higher education split over the next decade or two into a public sector focussed on research and a for-profit sector doing most of the teaching?” The evidence? The communique from UNESCO predicting “massification” of higher education, Wildavsky’s book on global universities, and Salmi’s commentary on world class universities, Tony Bates’s article on the future of higher education, and Archibald and Feldman’s book on the costs of higher education. He could have added many other sources (and especially digital sources), such as this week’s call for a $10,000 degree from Texas governor Rick Perry, or Paul Kiser wondering whether state-run higher education is doomed.

Also see:

Dr. Tony Bates’
2011 Outlook for Online Learning and Distance Education (PDF)

Tagged with: budgetary • change • cost of getting an education • disruption • future of higher education • game-changing environment • higher education • legislation • new business models in he • teaching & learning • Walmart of Education

New website guides you through the homeless experience

On 02/09/2011, in budgets, career development, faith, political science, psychology, relationships, sociology, workplace, by Daniel Christian

New website guides you through the homeless experience — from Mashable by Zachary Sniderman

Also see:

Tagged with: budgetary • career development • civics • faith • psychology • relationships • sociology • workplace

Report shows U.S. schools can’t meet technology demands of teachers, students

On 02/09/2011, in budgets, digital learning, education technology, expectations, K-12 related, legislatures / government / legal, by Daniel Christian

Report shows U.S. schools can’t meet technology demands of teachers, students— from The Journal by Scott Aronowitz

Few people will be surprised to learn of research that shows K-12 institutions throughout the United States have become heavily dependent on technology, and that this dependency continues to increase with each passing year. What may surprise even the most jaded among us, however, is that, given that many view this a “good” dependency with a wealth of immediate and long-term benefits for teachers, students, and staff, we’re doing an inadequate job of feeding the habit.

At the FETC 2011 show in Orlando, FL, PBS and research firm Grunwald Associates released a national research report on digital media usage among educators entitled “Deepening Commitment: Teachers Increasingly Rely on Media and Technology.” The report is based on a survey conducted in August 2010 of 1,401 preK-12 teachers from various regions and demographics throughout the United States. Its primary conclusions are:

Teachers are, owing to both interest and circumstance, increasing their use and knowledge of technology in the classroom; and

U.S. schools provide an insufficient capacity of computing devices and technology infrastructure to support teachers’ Internet-based instruction needs.

Tagged with: budgetary • digital learning • K-12 • pooling resources • student expectations

Wyse Technology and Pearson Digital Learning Join Forces to Cut Technology Costs for Schools

On 01/29/2011, in budgets, education technology, K-12 related, new business models, publishing, by Daniel Christian

Wyse Technology and Pearson Digital Learning Join Forces to Cut Technology Costs for Schools

Tagged with: budgetary • educational technology • IT • K-12 • new business models • pooling resources • publishing

Tagged with: blended learning • budgetary • hybrid learning • K-12

What are the costs of not investing in ICTs in education?

On 01/20/2011, in budgets, education technology, leadership, vision/possibilities, by Daniel Christian

What are the costs of not investing in ICTs in education? — from blogs.worldbank.org Michael Trucano, Sr. ICT & Education Specialist

From DSC:
Having studied economics, I appreciate what Michael is saying about the opportunity costs involved here:

What are the costs of not investing in ICT use in education?
Can we afford them?

Tagged with: budgetary • educational technology • leadership • vision

Previous Entries Next Entries

Learning Ecosystems