As college tuitions and fees continue to grow, students, parents and public policymakers are interested in understanding how public universities operate and whether their investments are well-utilized. Accountability in public higher education has come into focus following the attention accountability has received in K-12 education. Against this…

The major higher education trade associations have addressed the calls for transparency and accountability by creating two public online databases into which colleges are able to voluntarily submit information on costs and outcomes. The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) launched its University and College…

American Association of State Colleges and Universities' (AASCU's) public policy agenda, rooted in an uncompromising commitment to opportunity for the nation's students, is expressed through the following core principles: (1) Higher education is a common good that provides significant benefits to individuals and society as a whole; (2) America's…

This article presents an interview with two people who had responsibility for leading the development of the Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA)--a joint project of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), supported by the Lumina…

In September 2006, the Spellings Commission on the Future of Higher Education issued an indictment of American higher education. Costs are too high, said the panel formed by Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, graduates rates too low, and learning outcomes a mystery. Moreover, "compounding all of these difficulties is a lack of clear,…

The Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA) provides a framework for public universities to provide evidence of success and increase public confidence. The goals of the VSA are threefold: (1) Demonstrate greater accountability and stewardship to the public; (2) Enhance effective educational practices by measuring educational outcomes; and (3)…

With the 2006 mid-term elections over, higher education will be an important topic in public policy discussions at the federal and state levels. State colleges and universities will need to stay informed and be prepared to take action as discussions about access, affordability, and accountability play out in the coming year. This issue of…

The annual report of the University System of Georgia identifies major commitments and activities, describes the system's seven-year plan and summarizes its financial status. The report begins with a list of members of the Board of Regents, messages from the chairman of the Board of Regents and the system Chancellor, and a list of system…

A plan for all of the state of Maryland's 13 public colleges and universities to be included in the University of Maryland System is discussed. The system would be governed by a board of regents, and each college would have a board of trustees to monitor campus issues. (MLW)

This 1999 New Jersey systemwide report updates several key data indicators (systemwide characteristics, student outcomes, fiscal indicators, and extent of student assistance) examined in earlier reports and adds new ones (number of transfer students, credits, and academic performance of transfer students). Previous enrollment trends continued…

The accountability report of the Georgia University System summarizes expenditures and progress made in achieving earlier goals. Following an overview which identifies major strategies toward the goal of a more educated Georgia, a section summarizes progress on major initiatives broken down into those funded in 1995-1997 legislative sessions,…

This report examines costs of higher education in New Jersey, comparing the state's system of higher education and its individual sectors with national counterparts. The comparison takes into account such factors as differences in the cost of living and the size and relevant structural characteristics of a state's higher education system. In…

This guide presents a plan for excellence in education within Mississippi's public university system. It is based on system goals and priorities established by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), and is designed to facilitate planning, budgeting, and decision-making processes at the system and university levels.…

This report presents a review and evaluation of the accountability plans in public postsecondary education as they relate to the mission and goals of postsecondary institutions. A review of current accountability activities found that existing legislation and institutional responses do not sufficiently embody the kinds of characteristics that…

Sponsored by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), a statewide coordinating agency for higher education, the Performance Funding Project is a developmental effort now in its fourth year. The purpose of the project is to explore the feasibility of allocating some portion of state funds to public colleges and universities on a…