State Funding Decision-Making for Higher Education Institutions During Capital Campaigns

Public higher education has experienced a decline i n state funding in real dollars. This has created financial challenges for many students and their families, as well as institutions. Tax revenue has decreased as a result of the econom ic recession, causing state leaders to reprioritize their fiscal responsibilities. Higher ducation has been viewed as a discretionary expense in competition with other state programs, s o funding can, and often, does vary. Colleges and universities use alternative financial resource s, most notably private fundraising, to meet their goals. The study was conducted to identify co llege leaders’ perceptions of state funding during their institution’s mega-capital campaign an d determine the influence of mega-capital campaign involvement on state funding for their ins titution. Using a mixed-methods approach to collect and analyze data, the study found that ther e was no statistically significant difference between state funding and mega-capital campaigns, i ncluding no statistically significant differences between institutions who were hosting a mega-capital campaign and matched peer institutions that were not hosting mega-capital cam p igns. College leaders also suggested that state funding for their university was not influenc d by their institution’s capital campaign status. Kingdon’s (2011) Three Streams theoretical framewor k was used as a lens to analyze the policy implications for the study. This analysis indicated hat substantial fiscal policy changes could be developed for public higher education. Further rese arch on the impact of funding on higher education was recommended, as well as an exploratio n of state legislative funding decisionmaking processes. Acknowledgements There are several individuals who I have met during my doctoral program. Many of them have played a small or large role in my success. Very si mply: Thank you. Also, there are individuals who I would like to esp cially thank for their contributions to the completion of my dissertation and obtainment of my degree: The individuals who permitted me to interview them for this project. Your willingness to be candid and clear was undoubtedly helpful and contri buted to making my dissertation more informative. My dissertation committee, Dr. Valerie H. Hunt, Dr. Kit Kacirek, and Dr. Tom E. C. Smith, for your valuable feedback, confidence in my abilities, and encouragement to complete my dissertation. Dr. Brinck Kerr, for your support of me while in th e Public Policy program. Dr. Daniel J. Pugh, Sr. and the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs who were patient and supported me during my last year of the doctora l program. My friends, Ashlee Roberts and Henry Brooks, for al l of your helpful advice and engaging conversations throughout my doctoral studies. And, perhaps most of all, many thanks to Dr. Michae l T. Miller, who served as my advisor and dissertation committee chair. Thank you for your di ligent guidance and consistent encouragement throughout the duration of the progra m, especially as I wrote my dissertation. I appreciate your sense of humor, patience, wisdom, k indness, and mentorship. Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to my family. To my wife, Amy Smith, thank you for your loving su pport and encouragement. I am incredibly appreciative for the many days and nights that you listened to me and encouraged me to persevere. You understood the importance of this pr oject, for all of my reasons, and never once doubted my ability to successfully complete it. You are a wonderful wife and best friend. To my parents, Rev. Aubrey E. Smith and Ellen D. Sm ith, thank you for loving me so sincerely, your unwavering support, and continuous prayers thr oughout all of my educational pursuits. It is difficult to imagine having more supportive parents than you. To my brother Elliott Smith and my sister Audra Smi th, your support of me is telling in every moment that you have listened to my experiences in school and provided some humorous remedy to trials I may have faced. You took great p ride in what I was able to accomplish, and I am grateful for your friendship. Thank you. To my grandfather James A. Dowdy, a World War II ve teran who turned 92 this year, your life experiences have been a catalyst for me to achieve b yond what was once likely unimaginable for many American-Americans 65 years ago. I cannot express my gratitude enough for you paving a way for me. Table of