Consider impact of new funding plan

In June, the Board of Regents approved a new funding model for our state universities that would largely tie state dollars to in-state undergraduate enrollment. Of course, the regents do not appropriate state dollars; that is the job of the Legislature. One high-profile decision the Legislature will have this year is whether to implement the regents' proposal. I sincerely ask the Legislature to not adopt the regents' plan.

At first glance, the regents' plan sounds like common sense. Why shouldn't state dollars follow the in-state students? Isn't this just applying market principles to higher education? Even if one believes that purchasing a college education really should not be much different from buying a car or toothpaste, there are some pitfalls of this plan that should be considered.

First, the proposal ignores the reality of the status quo: We have three universities that have used a relatively consistent and proportional stream of money to support the buildings, faculty and degree programs they offer.

To entirely change the funding model with one stroke creates chaos, unpredictability and potentially massive swings in state aid. How is the University of Iowa expected to absorb millions of dollars in cuts? What would the University of Northern Iowa do with additional millions in state aid? If we have funded the Regents universities the same way for generations, it seems unwise to one day wake up and say all of that was a mistake and we should implement a radically different alternative overnight.

Next, if funding is tied to in-state students, our state universities will take money away from education and put it into marketing. It will not simply be 'come to Iowa and not Iowa State.” It also will be 'come to Iowa and not Coe, Luther, Kirkwood, etc.”

If our state universities now will need to spend more money marketing themselves to Iowa high school students, guess what? Every private college and community college also will have to take money away from their educational mission and spend it on marketing. We have dozens of private colleges in Iowa; all of them will not survive if the Legislature enacts the regents' funding idea.

If simply having in-state enrollment now becomes the gold standard, we place a premium on keeping students enrolled regardless of the individual circumstances. There are plenty of students who start out at a four-year school who find they are not yet ready and transfer to a community college. They transfer to a community college because that is the best decision for them.

A four-year degree is not for everybody, but the regents' plan would give our state universities an incentive to keep every student paying tuition - and keep the state dollars flowing - regardless of whether it makes sense for the kid.

If what matters is just getting and keeping Iowa students, there also will be pressure to lower entrance requirements and make sure everybody gets passing grades. When student expectations and academic rigor are lowered, a disservice is done to the students, and the value of the degree is compromised.

The regents may have produced a funding scheme with ostensible appeal, but if the Legislature enacts this policy it will wreak havoc on every institution of higher education in Iowa and lower the quality of our state universities.

Higher education in Iowa has evolved over the past 167 years to support strong state universities, private colleges and community colleges; it would take only a matter of years to do irreparable damage to the integrity and quality of a system of higher education in which Iowans rightfully have taken so much pride.

' Nate Willems is an attorney and former legislator who lives in Mount Vernon. Comments: nwillems@gmail.com

Guest columns by former Iowa Governor Robert Ray and Kirkwood Community College Board of Trustees member John Swanson are also a part of this editorial package.