Dive Brief:
- The University of Wisconsin System could see a potential $42 million funding boost over the next two years, if its schools can demonstrate increased graduation rates, secured employment in yet-to-be-named industries and efforts to control the amount of loans borrowed by students.
- The performance-based funding announcement was packaged with an extension of the state's tuition freeze, which some critics say will limit the ability for institutions to yield better returns and quality of education without non-conditional appropriations.
- While several states use or are moving towards performance-based funding, some research suggests that the support model does not account for the full scope of what is required to operate an institution, and how other factors influence performance beyond graduation and employability.
Dive Insight:
In Florida, performance-based funding models have rewarded schools with high impact resources and degree programs, while punishing institutions with fewer resources and which serve the most vulnerable student populations. For Wisconsin, like other states, the performance of students in school and in the job marketplace has much to do with factors beyond the classroom, and leaders have to make the compelling case for all factors involved in the broad concept of performance.
Industry has a lot to do with the post-graduate outcomes element of performance funding. Wisconsin is giving consideration to jobs obtained outside of the state, while Florida only counts jobs obtained within the state towards performance outcomes. Schools and government will have to work together to determine which industries are sustainable enough for inclusion in the funding model, such as secondary education, manufacturing and other fields which may be critical to the state's economic progress.