Strategies for Achieving Greater Success and Attainment in Tertiary Education Arthur M. Hauptman Wellington Group Meeting Chicago 18 July 2007

2 This presentation provides information and recommendations from two reports: Strategies for Improving Student Success in Postsecondary Education, published by WICHE in January 2007 Cost, Commitment, and Attainment in Tertiary Education: An International Perspective, forthcoming, Making Opportunity Affordable project, Jobs for the Future –Preliminary findings presented here

3 I. State Strategies for Improving Student Success Over the past decade, in the U.S. and in many other countries, an increasing amount of attention is being paid to whether students succeed, not just enroll This WICHE report asks two questions, provides three answers, and suggests four recommendations for how states can improve the success rates of their students The two questions: –Why has U.S. done so much better at achieving high levels of access than in promoting student success? –Why have equity gaps throughout the pipeline been so hard to close over a prolonged period of time?

4 Three reasons we have not made more progress in improving rates of student success –Policies and funding remain largely geared to access; very little emphasis on success Also, too much emphasis on stimulating demand Not enough attention on ensuring adequate supply especially for groups of students most at-risk –State and federal funds are not well enough targeted on the poor –State and federal policies are not well coordinated with each other Policies intended to improve success are often impeded by policies that are supposed to increase access –E.g., low tuition rates at public institutions contribute to low degree completion rates

5 Four recommendations for states to improve rates of success, particularly for students most at-risk Increase funding of early intervention programs for at-risk students Require more stringent preparation for students to be eligible for state need- based student aid programs Target student aid funds more toward students from low income families Pay institutions more for the number of Pell Grant recipients who finish a year of study, transfer, or complete a degree

6 II. Forthcoming publication from Making Opportunity Affordable will compare OECD countries on cost, commitment, and attainment First section compares OECD countries on their cost, commitment, and attainment rates Cost -Education, research, and total spending per student Commitment – Public and private resources as % of GDP Attainment - % of adult working population holding bachelor’s or sub-bachelor’s degrees Also, where does the US. rank on these dimensions of cost, commitment, and attainment?

7 U.S. Ranking in Cost, Commitment, and Attainment COST EducationR&DTotal Tertiary Spending Per Student 1 st (Out of 26) 15 t h (Out of 25) 2 nd (Out of 28) COMMITMENT PublicPrivateTotal Tertiary Resources as a Percent of GDP 7 th (Out of 28) 2 nd (Out of 28) 1 st (Out of 28) ATTAINMENT Bachelor’sSub-Bachelor’sTotal Attainment Rates (Ages 25-64) 1 st (Out of 24) 9 th (Out of 24) 2 nd (Out of 30) Attainment Rates (Age 25-34) 4 th (Out of 24) 12 th (Out of 24) 7 th (Out of 30) Growth in Attainment Rates (25-34) – (55-64) 24 th (Out of 24) 18 th (Out of 24) 28th (Out of 30)

8 Second section of report will examine whether high attainment or high attainment growth correlates with high cost, commitment, or national wealth Highest Five Countries with Bachelor’s Degree Attainment Highest Five Countries with Sub-Bachelor’s Degree Attainment Highest Five Countries with Growth in Bachelor’s Degree Attainment Highest Five Countries with Growth in Sub- Bachelor’s Degree Attainment

9 Highest Five Countries – Bachelor’s Degree Attainment CountriesU.S.Norway Nether- lands DenmarkIceland Bachelor’s Degree Attainment 1 st (30%) 2 nd (29%) 3 rd (27%) 4 th (25%) 5 th (24%) Ed Spending Per Student 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th 5 th Total Spending Per Student 2 nd 6 th 7 th 5 th 21 st Public Commitment7 th 5 th 10 th 1 st 10 th Private Commitment 2 nd 17 th 9 th 17 th Total Commitment1 st 7 th 9 th 4 th 18 th National Income Per Capita 3 rd 2 nd 6 th 14 th 7 th

10 Highest Five Countries – Sub-Bachelor’s Degree Attainment CountriesCanadaJapanFinlandBelgiumSweden Sub-Bachelor’s Degree Attainment 1 st (30%) 2 nd (17%) 2 nd (17%) 2 nd (17%) 5 th (15%) Ed Spending Per Student 6 th 9 th 16 th 19 th 11 th Total Spending Per Student 3 rd 14 th 10 th 12 th 4 th Public Commitment6 th 29 th 1 st 7 th 3 rd Private Commitment 3 rd 4 th 17 th 13 th Total Commitment3 rd 12 th 4 th 12 th 4 th National Income Per Capita 10 th 19 th 16 th 13 th 9 th

11 Highest Five Countries – Growth in Bachelor’s Degree Attainment (difference between year olds and year olds) CountriesKoreaSpainIrelandNorwayJapan Growth in Bachelor’s Degree Attainment 1 st (22% Point Diff ) 2 nd (17% Point Diff) 3 rd (16% Point Diff) 5 th (14% Point Diff) Ed Spending Per Student 6 th 11 th 13 th 2 nd 9 th Total Spending Per Student 23 rd 17 th 16 th 6 th 14 th Public Commitment28 th 20 th 15 th 5 th 29 th Private Commitment1 st 9 th 17 th 4 th Total Commitment2 nd 18 th 7 th 12 th National Income Per Capita 23 rd 20 th 11 th 2 nd 19 th

12 Highest Five Countries – Growth in Sub-Bachelor’s Degree Attainment (difference between year olds and year olds) CountriesJapanKoreaFranceCanadaBelgium Growth in Sub- Bachelor’s Degree Attainment 1 st (18% Point Diff) 2 nd ( 17% Point Diff ) 3 rd ( 12% Point Diff) 3 rd (11% Point Diff) 5 th (10% Point Diff) Ed Spending Per Student 9 th 6 th 19 th 6 th 19 th Total Spending Per Student 14 th 23 rd 15 th 3 rd 12 th Public Commitment29 th 28 th 10 th 6 th 7 th Private Commitment4 th 1 st 13 th 3 rd 17 th Total Commitment12 th 2 nd 11 th 3 rd 12 th National Income Per Capita 19 th 23 rd 15 th 10 th 13 th

13 Third section of the report will consider a series of countries as case studies Australia - High Bachelor’s Degree Attainment with Relatively Modest Commitment Canada – High Levels and Growth of Sub-Bachelor’s Degree Attainment Ireland – High Growth in Bachelor’s Degree Attainment Korea -High Growth in Bachelor’s and Sub-Bachelor’s Degree Attainment Japan - High Levels and Growth of Sub-Bachelor’s Degree Attainment Norway - Highest Level of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment Among Year Olds U.S. - Highest Level of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment

Conclusions from Both Reports The increased attention in recent years on student success is a very positive development Achieving higher levels of success requires more sophisticated thinking and revised policies aimed at raising degree completion and attainment rates Explicit decisions should be taken regarding the desired mix of academic and vocational programs Future policies should be more cognizant of unanticipated effects that may detract from achieving greater levels of student success