Responses
Buck1985
responses.docxVera Discussion:
This was a really interesting class and writing policy much more complicated than I had ever dreamed. With each assignment, we learned that every move and the intended outcome had a consequence. Some were good and others not as positive. Below are some of my learning moments. If I am in a position to write a higher education policy, I now know that I’ll need a lot of research, a solid plan, and a committee with representatives from all stakeholders.
1. Higher education is vital to the community and a college policy can affect change in a town or region. A downturn in enrollment, modification in coursework, or an infrastructure upgrade will be felt in the surrounding area.
2. State and Federal funding must be considered in the policy. Crafting policy to benefit the institution must not damage the ability to obtain funding. Monies to the college come from many sources but governmental funding is vital.
3. Staffing and operations must be thought through carefully. If enrollment or courses change it affects the faculty and staff. When faced with the loss of employment or salary changes a policy can become unpopular rapidly.
4. Change must be monitored and measured. The policy may seem successful but there are so many potential hurdles that crop up along the way.
5. The ability to adapt, flex, and make modifications if important to any new plan. Things will not go exactly as planned. Be prepared for some failures, fix them, and move on with the outcomes that do work.
As I look at the greater picture of higher education, I think tuition, access, and retention continue to be issues that need resolution. The high student debt cannot continue. An emphasis on quality college and pathways to higher education access for all has long been our countries goal but we are not accomplishing that currently (Mitchell & Gauner, 2020). The online and distance learning scenario has become even more necessary over this last year. This shift has accelerated the need for and use of virtual platforms. While schools may go back to a more normal pace in the coming months, many things will change and technology will improve in these areas (Fuscaldo, 2019).
I believe change will come but I’m not sure in what form. More government support for higher education seems unlikely soon, and the move towards performance-based funding is underway. While this scheme’s success is not yet known, the political environment makes it very popular. It may drive institutions’ towards changing admissions criteria to be even more selective in hopes of producing better quality results (McLendon & Hearn, 2019). This is the exact opposite direction to the desire for inclusion and diversity, and hopefully, the push for free or cheaper tuition will offset this trend. Federal and state funding in the future should work to make it more accessible to all students. The current methods are allowing tuition to rise too rapidly and not contributing to factors that help students obtain gainful employment. We have much work to do and hurdles to overcome in the future of higher education.
I hope you all have a great summer!
Vera
Fuscaldo, D. (2019, September 11). What Will Higher Education Look Like 5, 10, or 20 Years from Now? Retrieved June 07, 2020, from https://www.goodcall.com/education/future-of-higher-education/
McLendon, M., & Hearn, J. (2019). The Resurgent Interest in Performance-Based Funding for Higher Education. Retrieved June 07, 2020, from https://www.aaup.org/article/resurgent-interest-performance-based-funding-higher-education
Mitchell, B., & Gauner, R. (2020). Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved June 07, 2020, from https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2020/04/03/advice-colleges-dealing-financial-issues-brought-pandemic-opinion
Policy creation and implementation is a long and sometimes difficult process that should never be taken lightly, especially in higher education. Policies and regulations that are enacted today can greatly impact future students, employees and institutions. Over the course of the past 10 weeks, we have learned about how the implementation of different policies have impacted institutions, states and other areas of higher education. New policies should be created to foster and empower future student growth rather than inhibit student learning and access. Five of the most important things that I have learned that I believe will be applicable to my career in higher education are:
1. Consideration of environmental and political factors that will influence public policy at a given institution. Even private institutions must consider how these factors will influence state, federal or institutional regulations. Students come from all over the world and how the institution addresses these factors will end up affecting the learning, residential and cultural environment of the institution.
2. Ensuring that a policy is adaptable to future concerns/goals/issues. Many states enacted policies that were not sustainable for long term use. Creating a policy that is not only sustainable but also adaptable is key to the long-term success of the policy.
3. Interdepartmental communication and leadership. Communication between departments and area leaders is essential to the overall success and implementation of the policy. If an institution is crafting a policy that is focused on Academic Affairs, it is not just up to the Academic Affairs area to ensure it is successful. Student Affairs and other department leaders should be involved to assist in the creation and implantation of the policy as it will ultimately affect other areas on campus. Plus, the other individuals may be able to offer a viewpoint that professionals in the Academic Affairs area may not think about.
4. Financial impact. New policies require financial investment in order to be successfully implemented; funding to finance the new policy could come from grants, federal aid or private sources. Again, multiple avenues need to be explored in order to finance a new policy. Some aspects could possibly be covered with restructuring, but ultimately the policy would have to be supported (not just with initial funds, but also other forms of support) by various stakeholders in order for it to be a lasting beneficial policy.
5. Evaluation of effectiveness. Institutions should evaluate the new policy to ensure that it is benefiting the current students and positively impacting future generations. Some states and institutions enacted policies that were never evaluated and ended up hindering students rather than benefiting them. Evaluations of the institution can also identify other issues or concerns that institutional leaders may not be aware of.
As issues surrounding financial aid, access and diversity continue to be discussed in higher education circles, policies addressing these topics and concerns will continue to be crafted and adapted. These areas continue to be a major concern for many students, parents/guardians, professionals and employees; more and more institutions are working to address the lack of action with these specific issues and how their institution can change to support students rather than hinder them. I believe that trends in federal and state funding will be at the forefront of the movement. Institutions are hesitant to invest large sums of money that may not guarantee immediate success; federal or state funds need to be available to empower institutions to actively change admission, financial aid, multicultural services and residential facilities. Ultimately, financial change will need to begin on the federal level before higher education as a whole sees major changes.
Hope that everyone has a safe and healthy summer! Thanks for the past 10 weeks!
