Please scroll down to download the Executive Summary of Undersecretary Studley's remarks at the 2014 SEM Conference, as well as summaries of other key presentations from the meeting.
Prior to the holidays, the Obama administration released its framework for rating colleges and universities first announced in August 2013. The proposed plan aims to hold institutions more accountable for their performance using several key indicators, such as tuition, graduation rates, loan repayments, and post-graduation income. The Department of Education is seeking public comment on its proposal through February 2015. As Larry Gordon reported in the Los Angeles Times (“College ratings system may rank loan repayments, graduation statistics,” 12/18/14). “Many details remain to be decided over the next few months, with some wary colleges and universities sure to protest any measurement that might hurt their reputations.”
Just before the ratings were released, the Obama administration’s point person for the ratings effort, Department of Education Deputy Undersecretary Jamienne S. Studley, addressed attendees of the 2014 AACRAO Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Conference in Los Angeles. Her timely and thought-provoking presentation at SEM explained how the ratings would be released, and added a few preliminary insights about the government’s plans for a framework.
Reactions to the proposed framework
According to Anya Kamenetz, Education Futurist and Lead Education Writer for NPR, the framework consists of indicators related to accessibility, affordability, and educational outcomes. Indicators related to access include the percentage of students who obtain Pell Grants and the percentage of first-generation students. Affordability can be measured by the “net” price charged to students once financial aid and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price.
There is uncertainty regarding the assessment of educational outcomes. Graduation rates are an obvious choice, and this measure will be improved once the Department of Education incorporates data on the graduation rates of part-time and transfer students. Other possible outcome indicators include loan-repayment rates, graduate school attendance rates, the percentage of employed students six months after graduation, and median income levels adjusted for career choice.
Since the framework’s release in December, some commentators have voiced concerns about the quality-education or real-value measures that are to be assessed and identified and some limitations of the metrics being considered. Carol Geary Schneider and Daniel F. Sullivan (“What about Learning?” Inside Higher Ed, 12/19/14) observe that the ratings framework provides an incomplete picture of how individual colleges and universities serve students and the nation. In their view, the framework lacks an indicator to measure the most important outcome of higher education – the impact a college or university has on student learning outcomes.
Even critics recognize that the proposed ratings system is likely to expose some of the institutions that are underperforming and jeopardize their access to federal support. The White House intends to tie federal financial aid to colleges’ performance as judged by the ratings system. However, this aspect of the President’s plan would not be implemented until 2018 and requires congressional approval.
Highlights from the Ed Dept presentation at SEM
There is no simple way to create a higher education ratings system. The goal of the current effort is to use a nuanced approach that captures what matters for students and institutions alike. At AACRAO SEM, Jamienne Studley described how the federal rating system is trying to reframe key questions related to higher education through various initiatives. The department has been listening to the higher education community for more than a year, including students, community colleges, small privates, and other stakeholder interests. Studley made the following additional observations about the administration’s rating effort:
- Colleges and Universities would not be ranked – the goal is to be more broad based and highlight institutions that are strong in access, affordability and outcomes.
- Make fair comparisons between institutions – to understand outcomes, the Department will look at differences between institutions. The Department does not want to discourage institutions from taking students who have academic challenges. The rating system is moving to improve access initiatives across the board.
- Consider thoughtful ways to capture graduation rates. This is particularly true in the community college sector, where many students transfer.
- Affordability is a key question and a personal one. These factors are important for people making college-going decisions.
- Ratings will reflect the diversity and complexity of the U.S. higher education system.
Download the Executive Summary of Deputy Undersecretary Studley’s presentation in a PDF format here.
That PDF also has summaries of other SEM keynotes, including:
- Anya Kamenetz, Educational Futurist, Fast Company Magazine--"DIY Education Revolution"
- Barbara Sawrey, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs/Dean of Undergraduate Education, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego--"When Top Down Meets Bottom Up"
- William Serrata, President, El Paso Community College
- Robert Strazzarino, CEO, College Scheduler--"Student Planning: An Important Role In Graduation Initiatives"
- Victor B. Saenz, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Executive Director, Department of Educational Administration, University of Texas--"Closing the Latino Male Achievement Gap"
- Higher Education Panel Discussion--"Current Realities and Future Possibilities for SEM Practice"
Save the Date
Please make sure to attend our capstone event, the AACRAO Annual Meeting, where you will gain exposure to thought leaders who will share strategies for enhancing institutional and student success. AACRAO's 101st Annual Meeting is scheduled for April 12-15, 2015 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Preview our broad range of sessions and workshops, as well as hotel, travel, speaker, and registration information in the Registration Brochure. Writer, novelist, and NPR and PBS Host Scott Simon will open the meeting with lessons learned from his stories and interviews. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will deliver the closing plenary by sharing her perspective on the current state of world affairs. Online registration is open.