A group of university presidents will meet Monday to finalize a performance funding model for higher education in Kentucky.
Schools will primarily be awarded money based on the number of degrees they produce. Some critics argue that incentivizing degree production will diminish the quality of education.
“Measuring quality is not easy," Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education President Bob King told WKU Public Radio. "It’s not as simple as measuring the quantity of things, so we’re hoping down the road to include in the model some recognition of quality that will hopefully address the concerns."
King says the funding model also rewards universities for turning out more graduates in the science, technology, engineering, math, and healthcare fields.
Funding model recommendations will be submitted to the governor and state lawmakers for approval by December 1.Five percent of state funding will be performance-based starting in 2017 and will gradually increase from year to year.
Dr. Kings adds that the new model is needed replace an outdated system that doesn’t account for adjustments in enrollment numbers and graduation rates.
