LOUISIANA La. — Beginning next year, the Board of Regents plans to place different values on higher education by revising the way two- and four-year schools are funded by the state.

Currently, the state uses a formula based primarily on Southern Regional Education Board data comparing how other states are funding schools most similar to Louisiana’s institutions.

The board is considering an incentive-designed formula with incentives for “better behavior” such as improved retention, focus on keeping students enrolled, enrolling the appropriate mix of graduate and undergraduate students.

“It’s a results-oriented formula,” said Joseph Savoie, higher education commissioner. “It focuses more on outputs than inputs. The old approach (was) if you enroll students, you get x amount of dollars. Now, if you enroll them you get some money, but if you graduate them, you get more.”

Improving the state’s graduation rate is the driving force behind the revisions, Savoie said.

The reimbursement rate per student will increase as the student advances in study. A freshman will be worth less than a junior and a graduate will be worth more than an undergrad.

In part, the idea is to improve student transition from a two-year and four-year school, said Donnie Vandal, deputy commissioner for administration.

Next year, the state will raise admission requirements for all four-year schools. The state hopes students who would typically enter four-year schools before the new requirements will shift to the community college system, helping to balance the overall budget for higher education, Vandal said.

“It’s more expensive to have a student in a four year than a two year,” Vandal said. “The more students we can move to the two year setting, the more cost effective our (funding) becomes.”

Part of the problem has been that the state didn’t have a well-developed community college system. If someone wanted to go to college, four-year was their only option.

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Marsha Sills
msills@theadvertiser.com