Pennsylvania

In this report, we examined five kinds of equity-focused metrics in state OBF policies to determine the extent to which states prioritize the enrollment and success of students of color and students from low-income backgrounds:

  1. Enrollment metrics for students of color
  2. Success metrics for students of color
  3. Enrollment metrics for students from low-income backgrounds
  4. Success metrics for students from low-income backgrounds
  5. Metrics related to campus racial climate

While the inclusion of these metrics in policies is essential, how they are deployed is equally as important. Therefore, we also considered whether the metrics were mandatory, optional, or weighted. Weighted metrics are the most ideal. These are mandatory and are given additional value, so strong institutional performance on a weighted metric would garner greater advantage or funding.

Four-Year Institutions

Pennsylvania adopted outcomes-based funding in 2011. It is allocated as base funding annually. The state froze funding levels in 2019.

It is designed to measure success, access, and stewardship using the following metrics:

Student Success

Group I: Two mandatory measures

  1. Degrees Conferred (1.0)
    • Number of associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees conferred (.50)
    • Undergraduate degrees awarded per FTE undergraduate enrollment (.50)
  2. Closing the Achievement Gaps for First-Time Freshmen (1.0)
    • Closing the first-time freshmen achievement gap for Pell recipients (.50)
    • Closing the first-time freshmen achievement gap for underrepresented minority (URM) students (.50)

Group II: Universities can select from the following:

  1. Student Persistence (1.0)
    • Overall percentage of students returning for a third academic year (.66)
    • Overall percentage of students returning for a fourth academic year (.34)
  2. Value-Added—Senior CLA, CAAP, or ETS® Proficiency Profile Scores
    • Critical Thinking (EPP and CAAP)/Performance Task (CLA) (.50)
    • Writing (EPP)/Analytic Writing (CLA)/Writing Essay (CAAP) (.50)
  3. STEM and Health Profession Degree Recipients — Increase in university degree recipients in high-need programs such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and health care (1.0)
  4. Closing the Achievement Gaps for Transfer Students (1.0)
    • Closing the transfer achievement gap for Pell recipients (.50)
    • Closing the transfer achievement gap for URM) students (.50)

Access

Group I: Two mandatory measures

  1. Closing the Access Gaps for First-Time Freshmen (1.0)
    • Closing the first-time freshmen access gap for Pell recipients (.50)
    • Closing the first-time freshmen access gap for URM students (.50)
  2. Faculty Diversity (1.0)
    • Percentage of full-time tenure/tenure-track faculty who are nonmajority persons (.50)
    • Percentage of full-time tenure/tenure-track faculty who are female (.50)

Group II: Universities can select from the following:

  1. Faculty Career Advancement (1.0)
    • Percentage of associate professors who are nonmajority (.25)
    • Percentage of associate professors who are female (.25)
    • Percentage of professors who are nonmajority (.25)
    • Percentage of professors who are female (.25)
  2. Employee (Nonfaculty) Diversity (1.0)
    • Percent of executives who are nonmajority (.25)
    • Percentage of executives who are female (.25)
    • Percentage of professional staff who are nonmajority (.25)
    • Percentage of professional staff who are female (.25)
  3. Student Diversity (1.0)
    • Percentage of total students enrolled who are federal Pell Grant recipients (.50)
    • Percentage of total students enrolled who are nonmajority (.50)
  4. Closing the Access Gaps for Transfer Students (1.0)
    • Closing the transfer access gap for Pell recipients (.50)
    • Closing the transfer access gap for URM students (.50)

Stewardship

Group I: One mandatory measure

      1. Private Support — Annual amount of private funds raised by university and foundations (1.0)

Group II: Universities must select at least one from the following:

      1. Facilities Investment (1.0)
      2. Support Expenditures as Percentage of Cost of Education (1.0)
      3. Instructional Productivity (1.0) (Measure not available in years two through five of the plan.)
      4. Employee Productivity (1.0)

This policy includes a campus climate metric that measures the percentage of professors who are nonmajority and female and the percentage of staff who are nonmajority and female.

The policy is overseen by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. To learn more, visit https://www.mansfield.edu/academic-affairs/upload/PASSHE-Performance-Funding-Plan-Apr-2013.pdf.

Four-Year Institutions

Enrollment of Students of Color Mandatory & Optional
Success of Students of Color Mandatory & Optional
Enrollment of Students from Low-Income Backgrounds Mandatory & Optional
Success of Students from Low-Income Backgrounds Mandatory & Optional
Measure Related to Campus Climate Optional
Outcomes-Based Funding Map Placeholder
Outcomes-Based Funding Map