Workforce development is one of the top issues for state higher education executives today. Employers are actively looking for ways to address skill gaps and labor shortages in their companies. To address these talent gaps, states are aligning their academic program approval process with state workforce needs. Minimal research has explored the…

Accreditation is a critical tool for quality assurance and accountability for higher education, signaling an institution's commitment to academic quality and fiscal integrity. The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) published this statement to help board…

The New York State Regents Action Plan dramatically changes educational reform initiatives by requiring districts to sign a written contract specifying criteria for program, performance and fiscal accountability. Districts are required at the end of the school year to provide a written explanation as to whether or not the goals were achieved. On…

This paper examines regulatory reform initiatives being considered and adopted in several states for the deregulation of academic program policies in public institutions of higher education. Many policymakers feel that academic program policies, which were designed to control growth and temper institutional aspirations, may instead hinder…

This working paper outlines several issues that federal and state policymakers face in implementing the Carl Perkins Amendments of 1990. Each of 11 issues is presented with a brief comment outlining several alternatives, to serve as the basis for discussion. Since it is designed to stimulate discussion, this document does not present any…