Who's Getting Money from the State and Why? How?

Scott Jaschik reports on two new studies, each of which aims to understand the how and why of state funding for institutions. Does lobbying work? Apparently so. Who's in the best position? Apparently, campuses located in proximity to a state capitol with democratic control.

"Two new studies suggest that strategy may go only so far and that, in some respects, public universities are like real estate: They benefit from location, location, location. The best locations may be in states led by Democrats (and with other political conditions) and in cities in or near statehouses. The studies don't contest the way research universities receive more per student than do other kinds of institutions, although they suggest that in states with a flagship and multiple research universities, flagship status may be less important than believed, and that research universities tend to be favored."

Read the full article here:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06/10/approps

Where is the Distance Education 'Tipping Point'?

When do the realities of having a lot of students doing distance education change your institution, and how? Cerro Coso Community College administrators (That school is past the 50 percent mark) led a discussion recently at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) meeting. Among the important impacts: Faculty Hiring and Training, Local Ties, and Technology Infrastrucuture.

"What do we change -- if we change anything?" said Dylan D. Mattina, director of information technology, in introducing the session. "This is something that many institutions will have to deal with at some point."

Mattina and others from his college discussed several of the choices colleges need to make as they reach either 50 percent or some other critical mass where the institution is changed by the success of its distance offerings."

Read the full article here:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/26/distance