Student performance and graduation rates could determine the amount of funding state universities receive, if a new measure is approved.
Currently, Arizona's three universities are awarded funds based on student head counts.
But if plans being drafted by State Rep. Jennifer Burns, R-Tucson, reach fruition, students may play a bigger role in determining how much money their university receives.
"The funding we do right now is arbitrary," Burns said. "We need to fund the things that are a priority and we need to use the funding formula to affect behavior."
Burns added that she hopes to use funding as an incentive for universities to improve student performance.
Under the proposed legislation, universities might receive 75 percent of their funding in advance, she said. The other 25 percent would be tied to student performance, retention, graduation rates or all three.
However, Burns said student performance would not be gauged by tests, as it is with the controversial No Child Left Behind Act used in K-12 education.
"We are definitely not looking at tests," she added. "Marks would be set — the retention rate might be one of those benchmarks."
Rep. Ed Ableser, D-Tempe, said he supports Burns' goal but is unsure of her methods.
"I think we have the same end goal," he said. "The current method is horrible."
But Ableser said he was concerned about awarding funds based on student performance.
"If you hinge that funding on the performance of your students, if I were President (Michael) Crow, I would say every student gets an 'A' and every student graduates," he said. "You have to look at the self-interest of the university. Universities will obtain as much money as possible."
But Burns said she does not want to create "degree mills" which hand out meaningless degrees with the proposal she is preparing.
"We're looking for a funding model that is both effective and efficient," she said. "Effective in that they actually teach students and efficient in that they get them out in four years instead of six."
Both representatives agreed that the current funding model needs revision but said nothing concrete has been drafted to date.
Burns said she will continue working on a draft and would like to see a new model implemented either this year or phased in over the next few years.
Ableser said he hopes to discuss the measure further in a joint meeting Dec. 11.
Reach the reporter at: sarah.g.owen@asu.edu..
