Gazette opinion: State should measure success in higher ed

There’s something new in the Montana University System’s proposed budget appropriation for the upcoming biennium: An agreement that part of the funding will depend on performance.

This step toward greater public accountability is intrinsically linked to college affordability. Universities and colleges are supposed to deliver educational services that lead to completion of a degree or certificate. When students graduate — and graduate on time — they derive the highest value for their investment. Likewise, Montana taxpayers, who fund about 36 percent of the system’s educational expenses, get the biggest bang for their bucks when students become graduates. (The other 64 percent of educational costs for Montana residents in the Montana University System is covered by tuition.)

Full Story: http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/editorial/gazette-opinion/gazette-opinion-state-should-measure-success-in-higher-ed/article_a0127cc5-88cf-573d-8400-7b7bced5788b.html