Growth Beyond the Classroom—A Decade of Staffing and Spending in the UNC System
Growth Beyond the Classroom—A Decade of Staffing and Spending in the UNC System analyzes staffing and salary expenditure trends across the University of North Carolina (UNC) System from 2015-16 through…
50-State Comparison: College Graduation Rates
Public institutions have a unique responsibility to serve their students well and use their taxpayer-funded resources effectively. Some states, however, produce better outcomes than others. This is made clear in…
Model Legislation: REACH Act
The REACH Act is model legislation that ensures students at public colleges and universities receive a foundational education in American history and government by requiring a credit-bearing course on the…
Blueprint for Reform: Teacher Preparation
Blueprint for Reform: Teacher Preparation critiques the quality of instruction in schools of education. Future teachers are not being taught the essential knowledge they need to effectively teach reading and…
Policy Brief: From Empty Classrooms to Efficient Campuses
Executive Summary Colleges and universities across the country are burdened with inefficiently utilized facilities, leading to unnecessary costs, wasted space, and misplaced financial priorities. This policy brief, authored by economist…
Model Legislation: Financial Aid Transparency
This model legislation provides a structured framework for standardizing financial-aid offers, ensuring that they are transparent, accurate, and accessible to students and families. It is intended for use by state…
Blueprint for Reform: Accreditation
The Blueprint for Reform: Accreditation critiques the current accreditation system in higher education, which has shifted from a voluntary advisory role to a regulatory gatekeeper for federal funding. This transformation has…
Model Legislation: Accreditation Choice Act UPDATED March 2025
The Accreditation Choice Act aims to enhance educational freedom and improve accountability in higher education by expanding accreditation options for colleges and universities. This legislation empowers institutions to seek accreditation…
Blueprint for Reform: Surviving the Demographic Cliff
Blueprint for Reform: Surviving the Demographic Cliff is a strategic guide for state legislators and university trustees addressing the challenges posed by declining college enrollments and the anticipated demographic cliff—a…
Policy Brief: How Universities Should Choose Their Next Accreditor
Accreditation is one of the three tickets that every college in America must punch if it wants access to federal student aid (FSA) programs for its students. The current regulatory…