OBF EQUITY TOOLKIT: LEVERAGING OUTCOMES-BASED FUNDING TO SUPPORT EQUITY
[Toolkit Series 1] Background: Leveraging OBF for Equity
THE OBF EQUITY TOOLKIT provides practical lessons on how states, systems, and institutions work to address equity in the development and implementation of OBF policy. Broken into four Series focused on equity challenges in distinct phases of the OBF policy process, the Toolkit contains short, individual modules that focus on specific topics and provide lessons learned and recommendations for policymakers and institutional leaders to consider. Content is derived from in-depth study of six states (Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, New Mexico, Oregon, and Kentucky) and 13 institutions in them. See the Research Methods section of the Overview for more information.
This research was conducted in coordination with the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Opinions reflect those of the authors, not necessarily those of the Foundation.
Tennessee’s Outcomes-Based Funding Formula was adopted in 2010 as part of the Complete College Tennessee Act. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission oversaw the development of a formula that incentivizes student progression, completion, productivity, and in the two-year sector, transfer and job placement. The formula also provides bonus weighting for the success of adult, low-income, and in the two-year sector, academically underprepared students. Currently, 85% of state support to public postsecondary institutions flows through the formula.
Quick facts about OBF in Tennessee
Governor Phil Bredesen and Governor Bill Haslam are cited as key champions of Tennessee’s outcomes-based funding policy.
Tennessee’s public institutions were formally involved in the development of the outcomes-based funding policy. The state formed several committees made up of institutional leaders and stakeholders during the development of the formula.[i]
Outcomes-based funding policy was adopted as one component of the Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010. While the policy has not changed, a formula review committee, made up of institutional leaders, Tennessee state legislature representatives, governor’s office representatives, and system officials, meet annually to review the formula. Every five years the formula undergoes a comprehensive review.
Tennessee’s OBF policy identifies three student groups as priority populations: adult and low-income students, and at community colleges only, students who are academically underprepared.
Tennessee state context
Statewide demographics in 2017: 74% White – not Hispanic or Latino, 17% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 2% Two or More Races, 6% Hispanic or Latino.[ii]
Governance structure: Two different systems of governance across the two- and four-year systems.
Tennessee’s community college system is centralized. The Tennessee Board of Regents sets and manages all policies for the administration of the community college and technical institutions sector.
Tennessee’s university system is decentralized. Tennessee’s six Locally-Governed Institutions have their own board of trustees responsible for the administrative functions of each campus. The University of Tennessee system is comprised of three institutions, all of which are governed by the University of Tennessee System’s Board of Trustees.
Coordinating/governing agency for postsecondary: The Tennessee Higher Education Commission serves as the coordinating body for all higher education in the state.[iii]
TENNESSEE'S EQUITY CHALLENGE
Large attainment gaps exist in Tennessee. While total credentialed attainment in 2016 equaled 41%, attainment varies across race and ethnicity.[iv]
Table 1. The percent of Tennessee residents age 25-64 with at least an associate degree or workforce-relevant certificate or higher in 2016[v]
To increase focus on equity, Tennessee doubled bonuses for priority populations. The first iteration of the formula applied a 40% bonus whenever a low-income or adult student persisted or completed. In 2015, the formula was revised to increase the bonus to 80% and to offer graduated bonus levels, meaning that outcomes achieved by students who qualify for one focus population will garner an 80% bonus; students who qualify for two will garner a 100% bonus; and students who qualify for three, at community colleges only, will garner a 120% bonus.
Tennessee State University, Tennessee’s public HBCU, may be disproportionately harmed by OBF. Since OBF implementation, Tennessee State University has seen a slower rate of funding growth than all other universities at 8%, compared to the state average of 25%.[vi]
OUTCOMES-BASED FUNDING FORMULA AND POLICY[vii]
Table 2. Timeline for adoption and implementation of Outcomes-Based Funding in Tennessee[viii]
Current funding formula[ix]
For a detailed description of Tennessee’s OBF policy, see THEC’s website, Outcomes Based Funding Formula Resources.[x]
Percent allocated through formula in FY19: 85%
Data and outcomes calculated: Three-year rolling averages
Equity metrics: Adult, low-income, and underprepared students.
Table 3. Overview of FY2016-21 Tennessee outcomes-based funding formula