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Funding Shift Will Reward Ore. Universities For Graduation Rates

Oregon leaders approved a significant change Thursday to how public universities are funded. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission voted unanimously to base 50 percent of university funding on graduation rates.

Enrollment is by far the most important factor now, accounting for 80-percent of the university funding formula.

The change will phase in over four years.

Officials say universities will have to maintain high academic standards even as funding emphasizes that students finish degrees.

University leaders say additional funding - regardless of the strategy - will be key to improving Oregon's college graduation rates.

Copyright 2015 Oregon Public Broadcasting

Rob Manning is a news editor at Oregon Public Broadcasting, with oversight of reporters covering education, healthcare and business. Rob became an editor in 2019, following about 15 years covering schools and universities in Oregon and southwest Washington as OPB’s education reporter.