Political Influences on State Policy: Higher-Tuition, Higher-Aid, and the Real World

From policy design to campus: Implementation of a tuition decentralization policy.

“…The literature is replete with calls for in-depth study of how decreases in state allocations influence colleges and universities (Griswold & Marine, 1996;Phillips et al, 1996;Serban & Burke, 1998). Frost, Hearn, and Marine (1997) contend that a need exists for researchers and practitioners to understand how "conflicts over institutional purposes arise and are addressed in postsecondary systems" (p. 387).…”

State political culture and the affordability of higher education : a multivariate analysis of the impact of state higher education systems on the cost of attending college.

“…Griswold and Marine (1996) examined five states to see if or how they linked policies for tuition and aid. Griswold and Marine (1996) conducted case studies of two states with explicitly linked tuition and aid policies (Minnesota and washington) and three states with no formal linkage (New York, Massachusetts, and California). The authors analyzed policy proposals, research, and state newspaper articles, and they conducted interviews with state policymakers to collect data for their study.…”

“…To provide context for their study, Griswold and Marine (1996) explained that political players often are torn between the unpopular decisions of raising tuition or raising taxes to support higher education. In some states, politicians choose the apparent lesser evil of rising tuition, since it ultimately affects fewer votes.…”

“…In some states, politicians choose the apparent lesser evil of rising tuition, since it ultimately affects fewer votes. Griswold and Marine (1996) found evidence in Minnesota and Washington of reactionary increases due to economic and political factors. Tuition levels rose without consistent rational planning to account for the increases and without sufficient aid to counteract the effects of rising tuition.…”

State political culture and the affordability of higher education : a multivariate analysis of the impact of state higher education boards on the cost of attending college.

“…Merit based models shift resources away from offering need based grants to low-income students. Lopez (1996) and Griswold and Marine (1996) commented on the high-tuition, high aid strategy put into place in Minnesota. The study was the first systematic national examination of the links between state appropriations to public institutions, state financial aid programs, and public institution tuition levels.…”