Higher Education: Solutions for America1

The Higher Education Solutions Initiative

A national campaign to reframe public dialogue about higher education

Higher Education: Solutions for America2

Public Policy

Finance

Institutional Behavior

Public Opinion

Higher Education: Solutions for America3

Listening to the Public:Criteria for public support

Public

need

What warrants support?

Is there a way toGet involved?

Personal relevance

New Era

Politics

Accessible/

Actionable

Why do I care? Accountability andPerformance?

Higher Education: Solutions for America4

To justify public support, four conditions must be met…

A clear need for all of society

A personal connection (what’s in it for me?)

“New era politics:” Public return on the investment; transparent accountability

Accessible/actionable: People need to be able to “do something” to get involved

Higher Education: Solutions for America5

Public skepticism for higher education on all four dimensions

Public

need

Not as pressing asOther issues

Personal relevance

New Era

Politics

Accessible/

Actionable

Public questions-Esp. tuition/value

This isn’t about me..yet

There’s no way to

Get involved

Higher Education: Solutions for America6

Solutions for America

Expanding the conversation…

FROM

An individual responsibilityFor the privileged few

Not accountable Politically correct

ExpensiveExpendable

TO

A public investmentBenefits all of societyPublicly responsive Intellectually open

AffordableAn investment in the

future

Higher Education: Solutions for America7

How can SHEEOs help

Help us keep this on message: public purposes, serving the future, improving performance

Work with institutions to engage campaign at state level -

Data about state-level performance

Audience analysis