Reform higher education funding
As the 77th regular session of the Legislature begins in Carson City, I have a request for all of our legislators: Unite to pass comprehensive higher education funding reform. The debate over the state's higher education funding formula matters if for no other reason than because we take pride in these three: the Rebels, Coyotes and a scorpion named Scotty.
During the summer, the Legislature's interim higher education funding committee, chaired by then state Senator and now Congressman Steven Horsford, voted to recommend a funding formula to the Legislature in 2013.
This proposal was also recommended in the Board of Regents' budget request for the next biennium. The reforms directly benefit the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State College, which have long been short-funded. It ameliorates a temporary shortfall for the smaller northern schools and will produce enormous rewards for the entire state as we move from a system that is inputs-based to one focused on outcomes.
I want to thank Gov. Brian Sandoval for including a proposed formula similar to the interim legislative committee's recommendations in his executive budget. This shows support for the model and so now the full Legislature can act on one of the biggest opportunities to help Nevada move up from the bottom of every national ranking of good things: equitable funding for colleges and universities with a challenge for greater performance.
Lawmakers and regents proposed a funding formula that will provide CSN with more funding. This is critical and will provide badly needed resources that will help us meet accountability benchmarks written into the formula, reduce long registration lines, add more high-demand classes, provide timely advising, support unlimited hours of tutoring and build Nevada's future workforce.
CSN will still be the lowest funded institution per full-time student in the state. But because the new formula is based on an equitable dollar amount per student, then linked to student outcomes and institutional instruction, this proposed method of funding is fairer than what we have now.
NSC, the fastest-growing college in the state, will receive the largest percentage increase in funding and UNLV will also receive a boost. The governor's recommendation for $10 million in the state's Knowledge Fund offers a chance for a lasting impact at UNLV as well as on Nevada's economy.
With this new formula, you can correct years of inequity in state funding in Southern Nevada. With this new formula, you can bolster economic development and job creation. The formula incentivizes research and development for the universities, workforce development for community colleges and the additional output of highly qualified graduates in sectors where the state has identified a need.
A vote for this new funding formula is a vote to make higher education more accountable to taxpayers. There is statewide consensus that the status quo mechanism of funding schools based on the number of students enrolled can be improved.
The proposed formula is simple and comes in two parts. The base funds institutions on the number of students that pass classes. Then there is a performance pool, which holds the colleges and universities accountable to make progress in areas, such as the number of students enrolled in remedial education that go on to pass college level courses or the number of low-income and minority students that get degrees.
Students who attend classes and fail must be funded the same as their peers who succeed for two critical reasons. As we move to a performance funding model, we must avoid perceived incentives for grade inflation. This will be harmful to the reputation of our colleges and universities. We must also be cognizant that a teacher will put more effort and a college will put more resources into the student that is struggling in a class than the student who is sailing.
The formula proposed by the legislative committee is good math for all colleges and universities, regardless of their location in Nevada.
This is a new way of reallocating the same amount of funds for higher education. The proposed method is more equitable, more strategic and easier to understand than the complex formula we have used for years that significantly undermines education in Southern Nevada.
The proposed formula brings the state's three other community colleges' funding to levels similar to CSN's, yet provides for a transition period for this to happen slowly. New funding will be needed for that transition, otherwise reforms at CSN, UNLV and NSC will be delayed.
As you ask higher education institutions to be more accountable, do not tie the hands of your cash-strapped Southern Nevada colleges and university. Adopt the proposed formula as established by the interim legislative committee and Board of Regents, and recognized by the governor in his budget.
The solution is in front of you. Pass higher education funding reform. Our Southern Nevada students deserve a level playing field and we may never be this close to parity again.
