Linking Higher Education Performance Indicators to Goals. Educational Benchmarks 2000 Series.

Overview & Synopsis

This report tells what has been learned about reporting on higher education performance in the last 10 years and describes the kinds of information being used to inform policymakers and the public about higher education in the member states of the Southern Regional Education Board. The report provides examples of how the information is linked to states' goals for higher education and is being reported, and it illustrates how the information can help develop state and institutional policies and practices that are likely to achieve goals for higher education. There is more and better information available for making judgments about higher education now than there was 10 years ago. There are several reasons why it is important that the public know more about higher education performance and the return on investment from higher education. For one thing, the public increasingly insists on accountability for all of state government. In addition, competition for funding forces colleges and universities to show their efficiency and effectiveness. Higher education must also demonstrate its value to students, business and industry, and the public to gain the support it needs. Higher education performance indicators and report cards are most valuable when the information results in improvements in campus operations and student learning and the information contributes to public understanding and better policymaking at the state level. (SLD)