Although “free tuition” programs are politically popular, some worry that these programs will exa... more Although “free tuition” programs are politically popular, some worry that these programs will exacerbate inequity. Scholars note that program outcomes depend on implementation, but few have probed the contextual conditions that contribute to differences in implementation or the consequences of implementation for equity. To address this knowledge gap, we draw on conceptual models of implementation fidelity and case studies of last-dollar, free tuition programs at four community colleges. The consequences of an implemented program for equity depend on program content and coverage and are moderated by programmatic and organizational conditions. For the studied programs, implemented content includes the financial award and non-financial academic supports. Coverage is determined by eligibility requirements. Program content and coverage are moderated by programmatic characteristics, including program goals and placement in the organizational structure, program staffing, and recruitment st...
Also known as “free tuition,” college promise programs are emerging across the United States as a... more Also known as “free tuition,” college promise programs are emerging across the United States as a potential mechanism for improving college access and affordability, Whether these initiatives are an effective use of resources depends on whether programs advance societal goals for equity and efficiency. Although some emerging research explores the role of program design, few studies have probed how program design and resource investments influence program outcomes, efficiency, and equity. To address this knowledge gap, this study draws on case studies of programs that offer free tuition to attend four community colleges. Findings illustrate how program outcomes, efficiency, and equity may be influenced by the criteria used to determine program eligibility and the resources invested in the financial award and other program components. We hope the findings are useful to policymakers and institutional leaders, as they strive to allocate resources to advance both efficiency and equity.
Improving Research-Based Knowledge of College Promise Programs, 2019
This study focuses on Promise programs that provide financial awards to attend an individual post... more This study focuses on Promise programs that provide financial awards to attend an individual postsecondary institution based on geographic location. Using data primarily from the Delta Cost Project Dataset and the Penn AHEAD database of college Promise programs, we test internal determinants (postsecondary institutional characteristics, Promise program features, state context) and diffusion factors (geographic proximity and network membership) that contribute to the timing of the introduction of 49 Promise programs that limit attendance to a single two- or four-year institution and that were developed between fall academic years 1986-2014. Using event history analysis, we use Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models to show that both internal determinants and diffusion factors influence the likelihood of institutions establishing Promise programs. Being a two-year institution, having a philanthropic or government funder, and covering the costs of room and board as well as tuition are associated with an increased likelihood of having a program. The diffusion of Promise programs is also evident as institutions in states with more Promise programs of all types are more likely to establish single-institution programs. Two-year institutions in the Achieving the Dream network are not significantly more likely to introduce single-institution Promise programs than other community colleges. These findings provide conceptual and methodological contributions to understanding the factors that contribute to the spread of single-institution Promise programs.
Citation: Delaney, J. A. & Leigh, E. (2019). “A Promising Trend? An Event History Analysis of Factors Associated with Establishing Single-Institution College Promise Programs” in Perna, L. W. and Smith, E. (Eds). Improving Research-Based Knowledge of College Promise Programs. AERA Publications.
The use of big data in smart cities poses new questions about higher education and community-univ... more The use of big data in smart cities poses new questions about higher education and community-university engagement practices in addressing longstanding social and economic exclusion in urban communities. Drawing on transdisciplinary ideas in higher education, cultural theory, and science and technology studies, primary concerns in the era of big data are considered with current conceptualizations of higher education engagement and anchor institution purposes. Tensions in the narratives of civic engagement and democratic practice for community well-being are juxtaposed with tensions in the smart citizen narrative implied by the idealized smart city design. A new framing of community-university relations under what I term “hyper-local” engagement is suggested for more justice-oriented and democratic practices when universities interact with their surrounding communities given the impending and sweeping changes occurring from the use of big data in social policy.
" Free college " has emerged in some states as a new approach for increasing educational attainme... more " Free college " has emerged in some states as a new approach for increasing educational attainment. But, these and other states have long had initiatives designed to improve college affordability. To inform how state free tuition programs may improve affordability, increase attainment, and close gaps across groups in attainment, this article begins by providing an overview of the role of state policy in promoting attainment, with particular attention to higher education finance policies. Recognizing the utility of examining free tuition policies within the larger state context, we describe recent initiatives in Tennessee, Oregon, and New York. Given their recent establishment, it is too early to conclude whether state-sponsored free tuition policies improve higher education attainment or close gaps in attainment across groups. We consider emerging and potential outcomes, building on themes drawn from across the three cases and research on other higher education finance policies. We conclude by offering questions to guide policy makers, practitioners, and researchers in further consideration of these policies.
Over the past decade, but especially in the past few years, programs with a promise label have be... more Over the past decade, but especially in the past few years, programs with a promise label have been advanced at the local, state, and federal levels. To advance understanding of the design, implementation, and impact of the many different versions of emerging programs, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers need an organizing framework. To address this knowledge need, this study uses descriptive and cluster analyses of 289 programs that meet the following criteria: have a primary goal of increasing higher education attainment, promise a financial award to eligible students, have some “place” requirement, and focus on the traditional college-age population. Results suggest that state- versus non-state sponsorship, financial award structure (e.g., first/last dollar), type of postsecondary educational institutions at which the award may be used, and eligibility criteria (universal vs. merit or need) are important differentiators among programs. The results provide a foundation for future research on college promise programs.
Although “free tuition” programs are politically popular, some worry that these programs will exa... more Although “free tuition” programs are politically popular, some worry that these programs will exacerbate inequity. Scholars note that program outcomes depend on implementation, but few have probed the contextual conditions that contribute to differences in implementation or the consequences of implementation for equity. To address this knowledge gap, we draw on conceptual models of implementation fidelity and case studies of last-dollar, free tuition programs at four community colleges. The consequences of an implemented program for equity depend on program content and coverage and are moderated by programmatic and organizational conditions. For the studied programs, implemented content includes the financial award and non-financial academic supports. Coverage is determined by eligibility requirements. Program content and coverage are moderated by programmatic characteristics, including program goals and placement in the organizational structure, program staffing, and recruitment st...
Also known as “free tuition,” college promise programs are emerging across the United States as a... more Also known as “free tuition,” college promise programs are emerging across the United States as a potential mechanism for improving college access and affordability, Whether these initiatives are an effective use of resources depends on whether programs advance societal goals for equity and efficiency. Although some emerging research explores the role of program design, few studies have probed how program design and resource investments influence program outcomes, efficiency, and equity. To address this knowledge gap, this study draws on case studies of programs that offer free tuition to attend four community colleges. Findings illustrate how program outcomes, efficiency, and equity may be influenced by the criteria used to determine program eligibility and the resources invested in the financial award and other program components. We hope the findings are useful to policymakers and institutional leaders, as they strive to allocate resources to advance both efficiency and equity.
Improving Research-Based Knowledge of College Promise Programs, 2019
This study focuses on Promise programs that provide financial awards to attend an individual post... more This study focuses on Promise programs that provide financial awards to attend an individual postsecondary institution based on geographic location. Using data primarily from the Delta Cost Project Dataset and the Penn AHEAD database of college Promise programs, we test internal determinants (postsecondary institutional characteristics, Promise program features, state context) and diffusion factors (geographic proximity and network membership) that contribute to the timing of the introduction of 49 Promise programs that limit attendance to a single two- or four-year institution and that were developed between fall academic years 1986-2014. Using event history analysis, we use Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models to show that both internal determinants and diffusion factors influence the likelihood of institutions establishing Promise programs. Being a two-year institution, having a philanthropic or government funder, and covering the costs of room and board as well as tuition are associated with an increased likelihood of having a program. The diffusion of Promise programs is also evident as institutions in states with more Promise programs of all types are more likely to establish single-institution programs. Two-year institutions in the Achieving the Dream network are not significantly more likely to introduce single-institution Promise programs than other community colleges. These findings provide conceptual and methodological contributions to understanding the factors that contribute to the spread of single-institution Promise programs.
Citation: Delaney, J. A. & Leigh, E. (2019). “A Promising Trend? An Event History Analysis of Factors Associated with Establishing Single-Institution College Promise Programs” in Perna, L. W. and Smith, E. (Eds). Improving Research-Based Knowledge of College Promise Programs. AERA Publications.
The use of big data in smart cities poses new questions about higher education and community-univ... more The use of big data in smart cities poses new questions about higher education and community-university engagement practices in addressing longstanding social and economic exclusion in urban communities. Drawing on transdisciplinary ideas in higher education, cultural theory, and science and technology studies, primary concerns in the era of big data are considered with current conceptualizations of higher education engagement and anchor institution purposes. Tensions in the narratives of civic engagement and democratic practice for community well-being are juxtaposed with tensions in the smart citizen narrative implied by the idealized smart city design. A new framing of community-university relations under what I term “hyper-local” engagement is suggested for more justice-oriented and democratic practices when universities interact with their surrounding communities given the impending and sweeping changes occurring from the use of big data in social policy.
" Free college " has emerged in some states as a new approach for increasing educational attainme... more " Free college " has emerged in some states as a new approach for increasing educational attainment. But, these and other states have long had initiatives designed to improve college affordability. To inform how state free tuition programs may improve affordability, increase attainment, and close gaps across groups in attainment, this article begins by providing an overview of the role of state policy in promoting attainment, with particular attention to higher education finance policies. Recognizing the utility of examining free tuition policies within the larger state context, we describe recent initiatives in Tennessee, Oregon, and New York. Given their recent establishment, it is too early to conclude whether state-sponsored free tuition policies improve higher education attainment or close gaps in attainment across groups. We consider emerging and potential outcomes, building on themes drawn from across the three cases and research on other higher education finance policies. We conclude by offering questions to guide policy makers, practitioners, and researchers in further consideration of these policies.
Over the past decade, but especially in the past few years, programs with a promise label have be... more Over the past decade, but especially in the past few years, programs with a promise label have been advanced at the local, state, and federal levels. To advance understanding of the design, implementation, and impact of the many different versions of emerging programs, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers need an organizing framework. To address this knowledge need, this study uses descriptive and cluster analyses of 289 programs that meet the following criteria: have a primary goal of increasing higher education attainment, promise a financial award to eligible students, have some “place” requirement, and focus on the traditional college-age population. Results suggest that state- versus non-state sponsorship, financial award structure (e.g., first/last dollar), type of postsecondary educational institutions at which the award may be used, and eligibility criteria (universal vs. merit or need) are important differentiators among programs. The results provide a foundation for future research on college promise programs.
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Papers by ELAINE LEIGH
Keywords: higher education; finance; student aid; event history analysis; promise programs
Citation: Delaney, J. A. & Leigh, E. (2019). “A Promising Trend? An Event History Analysis of Factors Associated with Establishing Single-Institution College Promise Programs” in Perna, L. W. and Smith, E. (Eds). Improving Research-Based Knowledge of College Promise Programs. AERA Publications.
Keywords: higher education; finance; student aid; event history analysis; promise programs
Citation: Delaney, J. A. & Leigh, E. (2019). “A Promising Trend? An Event History Analysis of Factors Associated with Establishing Single-Institution College Promise Programs” in Perna, L. W. and Smith, E. (Eds). Improving Research-Based Knowledge of College Promise Programs. AERA Publications.