Arkansas Public Higher Education Operating Recommendations, Fiscal Year 2016-2017. Universities and Colleges
Author: Arkansas Department of Higher Education
Date: 2016-03-00
Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data
Subjects: Higher Education,Two Year Colleges,Universities,Vocational Education,Educational Finance,Funding Formulas,Resource Allocation,Models,Operating Expenses,Tuition,Fees

At its April 27, 2014 meeting, the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the funding models for the two-year colleges, universities, and the technical centers (former technical institutes merged with universities). These models had been developed in conjunction with presidents and chancellors after meetings and revisions. The funding models were used to develop the comparative needs of Arkansas institutions of higher education in terms of the average funding levels of schools in the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) region. Arkansas Department of Higher Education staff also reviewed new justification requests submitted by the non-formula group and prepared funding recommendations for Fiscal Year 2016-17 based upon those requests. The difference between the funding model determined needs of the entities compared to the Fiscal Year 2016 appropriations was $346,435,271. The funding gap (the difference between the formula determined need and the current fiscal year appropriation) is part of a phenomenon that occurs when there is an extended economic downturn which is invariably accompanied by enrollment increases, declining state support and tuition increases (to replace a part of the lost state support). The funding needs of the institutions are the funds needed to bring Arkansas higher education to the average funding level of the SREB region. The funding gap took a number of years to reach its current level and may never be completely erased. Each funding formula was developed to provide an equitable basis for the distribution of any funding available. Since it is not anticipated that the models will be fully funded in the near future, funding recommendations for 2016-17 are: (1) For the four-year institutions, a 2.1% increase for all institutions based on the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) which totals $7,623,006 and further recommending that those institutions below 75% of the model be brought to that level which is an additional $117,346,720 for a total four-year recommendation of $124,969,726 in new revenue; (2) For the two-year institutions, a 2.1% increase for all institutions based on the HEPI which totals $2,682,367 and further recommending that those institutions below 75% of the model be brought to that level which is an additional $6,582,313 for a total two-year recommendation of $9,264,680 in new revenue; (3) For the technical centers, a 2.1% increase for all technical centers based on the HEPI which totals $110,729 and further recommending that those technical centers below 75% of the model be brought to that level which is an additional $2,852,711 for a total two-year recommendation of $2,963,440 million in new revenue; and (4) For the non-formula entities the recommendation is for a 2.1% increase based on the HEPI index which is $3,974,407 and a recommendation of full funding which would require an additional $32,852,646, of which $10,004,108 would be for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).