Higher Ed Leaders See Solutions in Volatile Policy Landscape

Higher Ed Leaders See Solutions in Volatile Policy Landscape

NCSL task force highlights moves toward student-focused, value-based programs that reflect labor market needs.

The findings of the NCSL task force's recent meeting will shape its work in the year ahead and will be published in a playbook of strategies to enhance the value of degrees. (Credit: NCSL)

Amid recent federal policy changes, impending enrollment challenges and broad debates about the relevancy and value of degrees, higher education finds itself at a crossroads. To help chart a path forward, the NCSL Task Force on Higher Education recently convened higher education leaders in Washington, D.C., for its second Summit on the State-Federal Relationship in Higher Education. The first meeting was held in 2023.

The task force was represented at the meeting by 22 legislators from 20 states and joined by more than 15 college presidents and university system heads, who were invited by task force members. In a series of roundtable sessions, legislators and higher education leaders discussed the most pressing issues facing higher education. The discussions included informal polls to check the pulse of the leaders on key issues.

Navigating Federal Changes and Shifting Economics

Morning sessions focused on navigating a changing policy landscape. Task force members led a discussion on the shifting economics of higher education, highlighting significant issues such as declining enrollment, loss of international students, financial pressures and the impact of new loan limits on graduate opportunities and staffing. The group discussed the outlook for state funding, the pending enrollment cliff, and potential mergers and closures of programs and institutions.

A majority of task force members described their state's higher education landscape as "changing" or "challenged" while many members also noted the opportunity for higher education systems to improve. Members emphasized the importance of working with institutions and governance boards to create agile, responsive and efficient postsecondary education systems. Discussion included the use of data tools to measure key metrics of state education and talent development systems. Enhanced wage records, for example, expand state unemployment insurance wage reports to include job titles, hours worked and location, among other metrics, allowing researchers to assess education program effectiveness.

The task force discussed the implications of federal policy changes, such as new graduate loan limits, accountability provisions and reduced federal research funding. Among the legislators and higher education leaders, more than three-quarters anticipate that changes to graduate loan limits will have at least some impact in their state or at their institution, with a quarter of respondents saying the impact will be significant. More than 90% of the group anticipates that continued reductions in federal research funding will have at least some impact, with 50% saying changes will be significant.

Enhancing the Value of Degrees

The afternoon sessions focused on ideas and policies that could enhance the value of degrees for students, which was the central theme of the task force's 2024 report, which detailed a "state-led strategy to enhance the value of degrees." The task force believes three criteria must be true for every student to receive a degree of value:

• Degrees must lead to desirable life, career and earnings outcomes.
• Students must be able to complete the degree program on time and at their pace.
• Tuition prices must be reasonable.

To ensure more degrees lead to desirable career and earnings outcomes, the task force hosted a session on better aligning higher education to career pathways and workforce needs. The group strongly agreed that most degree programs should align with common career pathways, but noted that most programs do not explicitly map out the skills that prepare students for career success. The group also discussed state and institutional considerations for implementing the new Workforce Pell Grant program that will go into effect on July 1.

Given the more than 43 million adults with some college, but no degree, the task force discussed strategies to increase degree attainment. As noted in its report, some of the barriers that slow or prevent degree completion include challenges that students bring with them to higher education, but other barriers are often put in place by the system itself.

Task force members and guests discussed how institutions and states can adapt to meet students' evolving needs, with particular attention to advising, career pathways, transfer partnerships and recognition of prior learning. Key barriers identified include child care, academic preparation, housing insecurity, and challenges reengaging and supporting older and nontraditional students. The task force debated the roles of state policy versus institutional autonomy, emphasizing the need for collaboration, intentional investment and strategic use of evidence-based holistic programs. For example, City University of New York's Accelerated Study in Associate Programs, or ASAP, have shown success in improving graduation rates and workforce outcomes.

In a session titled "Designing Higher Education Around Students," the group discussed ways to increase student completion rates, such as credit portability and accelerated degree pathways. There was unanimous agreement that most of the credits offered at a state's public institutions should be portable to public institutions in that state. Additionally, the group agreed that more programs should accept prior learning and demonstrated competencies as credit toward a degree.

Finally, task force members discussed the challenges and strategies shaping postsecondary finance and affordability. Legislators shared examples of states aligning postsecondary programs with labor market demand, creating and publishing measures of return-on-investment, and addressing the fiscal impact of demographic pressures. Nearly three-fourths of task force members identified rising nontuition costs as the leading affordability barrier facing students.

The findings of the convening will shape the task force's work in the year ahead and will be presented in a detailed playbook of strategies to enhance the value of degrees.

The NCSL Task Force on Higher Education is the first national, bipartisan effort of state legislators since NCSL's Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education in 2006. Utah Sen. Ann Millner (R) and Virginia Sen. Mamie Locke (D) co-chair the task force, which includes legislators and legislative staff from 37 states.

The NCSL Task Force on Higher Education is generously supported by Arnold Ventures, Gates Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, Lumina Foundation and MDRC. The task force is supported through the NCSL Foundation by Pearson, ReUp Education, Risepoint, University of Phoenix and Western Governors University.

Austin Reid is a federal affairs advisor in NCSL's State-Federal Affairs Division; Sunny Deye is an associate director in NCSL's Education Program; and Andrew Smalley is a senior policy specialist in the Education Program.