The Importance Of Performance-Based Funding In Community Colleges

The American dream is a rhetoric of hope and mobility to reach the heights of economic sustainability that you wish to achieve. The idea is that the amount of effort you put forth will emanate the amount of success you can produce as a byproduct of American society. This concept however couldn’t be further from the truth, as many have tried to work up for years but only got slightly better at best then they say what they were nearly a decade ago. Many researchers have demonstrated that not only has the American Dream often times been influenced by our socioeconomic roots, but that to progress out of it is like a dime in a dozen. Since education provides students the material to move onto the larger job industry, and because the disparity between high school graduates and college graduate has increased so drastically, Americans are clamoring for college now more so than ever before. Student debt has been an issue that has kept many Americans in the lower end of the social class spectrum to miss out on utilizing college resources. Many financial aid programs have been established to attempt to decrease this tendency, particularly the Pell grant having the most success. Unfortunately, despite the initial success of the Pell grant program, it still has its limitations on how much help it can provide to underprivileged students. An incentive based scholarship program such as the Performance-based scholarships where attendance rates, passing classes, and student involvement

Today, Susan Hansen, Admissions Director of East Liberal Arts College, wishes to increase tuition and reduce financial aid available to students (Brickley, Smith and Zimmerman, 2009, p. 110). Moreover, she has expressed that “increasing tuition and reducing the amount of financial aid will solve the schools financial problems” (Brickley, Smith and Zimmerman, 2009, p. 110). This will be done by “increasing an effective tuition from $15,000 to $25,000” (Brickley et al., 2009). She also projects that the tuition increase enrollment from 400 to 600 students (Brickley, Smith and Zimmerman,

When it’s time for students in deciding which college they are going to attend, they consider many factors that will go into their learning experience. They take in their housing, meal, and transportation plans, all of which excite students for their college experience. However, the major factor that is a make it or break it deal for many, is if they will be able to afford schooling at a college. Many students take year off or decide to never come back to school due to the fact that college is expensive, even community college. The lack of students from being driven to attend, affects the student population at college. However, if community college were to be free it will cause a more diverse environment for students, causing them to have a different outlook in college. A reporter for US News and World Report, Joanne Jacobs, publishes the article, “As He Promotes It, Some Question Obama’s Free Community College Idea”. Where she is able to provide evidence on encouragement of free tuition. She argues that “with a more diverse group of students, community colleges could gain political capital and the funding that goes with it.” A diverse group of students will help create a new atmosphere for students and help create the college experience they seek. More students who are driven to learn, can potentially lead to new clubs being made, events, gatherings, etc. Having free tuition at community college will not only benefit students academically, but socially as well; which is all part of the development of their character.

Students can focus more on school instead of working all the time to make money.

For whom who graduated from high school will continue with their higher education level. Most of students think that if they graduate from college or four years university they will have a chance to work on the professional field rather than minimum wages. It is a good opportunity for whose low income students can make through and receive their college degree. To support my point, in the article “Expanding Community College Access” I agree with the President Obama that, “ASAP, which began in 2007, provides money for books, coaching, tutoring, tuition waivers and transportation. Fifty-seven percent of last year’s graduates finished in three years; compare to the traditional students, where the three-year graduation rate hover around 15 percent.” (Naughton). With the high percentage graduated of ASAP program provides, the state should be agreed that the community college tuition should be waved .

To the way that money and funds are distributed within schools would change the way and quality of education that these students receive and would influence them in a positive way. These three specific things would change the environment and influence them to try to overcome the obstacles that will push them to have a chance in obtaining any type of higher education.

In arguing in favor of the importance of distributing desert (merit) based financial aid at a small liberal arts school such as Green Mountain College, several arguments present themselves: one, desert based aid insures that incoming students meet a standard that facilitates strong academics, which in turn improves the school 's reputation and contributes to its long term viability; two, it incentivises students to work hard academically, benefiting fellow students and faculty who appreciate active classroom involvement and discussion; and three, students with good grades have likely worked hard for them and deserve just compensation for their work.

The U.S. government has created a new strategy to make colleges more affordable for low income students. Federal student aid’s primary goal is to help as many students attend college as possible. Financial aid and Pell Grants help low income students who meet certain academic criteria cover the costs of tuition. Low income students are getting a chance to attend college and increase graduation rates from four-year institutions to help close the poverty gap. Colleges and universities should make low income high school students aware of programs that will help them enroll and afford their education. Schools teach low income students that college is a key to their financial independence and a better life. High schools teach Seniors that in order to improve your social standing, employment options and salary expectations, a college education is often necessary. Financial aid is central to the successful enrollment and retention of low-income students. The majority of these students (90 percent) getting financial assistance from government. By maximizing Pell grant award amounts for low-income students, reforming the student loan program, and eliminating bank subsidies, colleges and universities can be affordable.

A surging $1.2 trillion in student debt and rising rapidly in tuition is the critical issue America public universities face today. These student debts and rising tuitions are caused mainly by administrative hiring and pay or expensive building projects on campuses. When public universities are spending money toward expensive building projects, this does not help with making tuition cheap to attend a certain university, instead it’s high.

Stuhldreher claims that Cullen, who had initially been skeptical about the program, witnessed an increase in student’s enthusiasm and effort, even though test-taking is not a priority for students with adult responsibilities or in extreme circumstances. Stuhldreher presents Cullen’s observations in order to demonstrate that people who were originally incredulous about the program’s success have now become supporters after noticing positive outcomes in student’s attitudes. Moreover, Stuhldreher presents an example of Cullen’s student, whom is tardy on a daily basis because she is responsible for her sibling, hoping to sway the audiences’ emotions by explicating that the financial rewards can motivate students who have more significant obligations and are in greater necessity of money. Consequently, Stuhldreher’s audience may be more inclined to support programs similar to Spark because they will feel compassion and empathy for students with financial disadvantages and rationalize that payments for students may benefit entire

San Jose City College’s 23% completion rate is not a good local investment. It’s true, investing in an educated populace contributes to the health and safety of the community and its economy; however, a generation of property tax revenue allocated to this college has not produced these particular results. San Jose City College students are taking much longer than normal to complete their two year program and the amount of students who complete their program is to insignificant to have any meaningful return. More students may complete their program within two years if they paid the cost of their own education.

For example, students that are motivated to do good in school by money will do good in school and they will not want to drop out. Overall, students will not want to drop out of school because they know they need a good education and they are making money by attending

Performance funding is a method of financing public education institutions based on outcomes such as retention, course and degree completion, and job placement. However, how are states being held accountable for monies received? According to Burke, (2002); Dougherty & Hong, (2006); Layzell, (1999); Ruppert, (1995), the purpose of performance based funding is to encourage institutions to be more effective and efficient while demands on higher education are being increased. One of the mysteries of state performance funding is that more accountability has been associated with states receipt of monies. Although there has been great interest in it for over 30 years, only half of all states have ever created a performance funding program for higher

The future of community colleges ultimately lies in continuing to prove its relevance. While four-year institutions are continuing to exist and an influx of for-profit and online institutions have risen; community colleges have to demonstrate that they play a significant role in society. Past years indicate that the purpose of community colleges has been difficult to understand because there have been many perceptions that have been created concerning their existence. The legitimacy of contemporary community colleges is questioned because it is difficult to make an overall assessment of their purpose (Pusser and Levin, 2009).

One of the most expensive fields in America today are colleges and universities. As time has gone on, so has the inflation of the nations market. In order to qualify for scholarships, students need a good education to help them compete with millions of other students across the nation. Therefore, being educated effectively will help better prepare them for the challenges universities require. Obtaining a good education will not only help students take their next steps in learning, but help them be ready for it