Revamping regents funding can wait

The only thing worse than the uncertainty caused by Legislators leaving unfinished a proposed revamp of higher education funding would be passing a new funding model that fails to meet the needs of Iowans.

The performance-based funding formula approved by the Iowa Board of Regents and largely ignored by the Iowa Legislature this session would have based 60 percent of university funding on in-state student enrollment. Preliminary estimates indicted that the formula would result in $12.9 million being removed from the University of Iowa coffers and redistributed between the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University.

The shift in funding and subsequent outcries from private and community colleges left many wondering if the Regents' plan was intended to reward or punish particular institutions.

The proposal already has led to increased marketing campaigns by state-run universities competing for in-state students.

Private institutions have raised concerns about their ability to compete with larger universities able to use tax dollars for increased marketing as well as overall student cost freezes or reductions.

The current funding model used to divide public funds between the three universities has been in place for about 150 years. During the last four decades, imbalances have developed. It needs to be revised.

But it would not be prudent to move forward with a new formula when there are so many questions of how or whether it would help schools provide students quality education while maintaining the distinct mission and culture of each institution.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul has never been a strong financial strategy and shouldn't be an option for public policy.

If the state has a specific vested interest in young Iowans pursuing in-state higher education, it might wish to consider a voucher system. Or, perhaps UNI should be funded differently than the two larger research universities. There are certainly other options to consider, as well.

And because our institutions will need time to adapt to any changes in state funding, we urge future discussions of funding models to include a specific future implementation date.

With open dialogue and deliberate planning, perhaps colleges and universities won't be as apt to overreact to change.

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