Rhode Island

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.

Two- and Four-Year Institutions

Rhode Island adopted outcomes-based funding in 2016. It is allocated as base funding annually.

In 2016, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed the Performance Incentive Funding Act (RIGL §16- 106), which set forth requirements for Rhode Island’s public institutions of higher education — the University of Rhode Island (URI), Rhode Island College (RIC), and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) — that help determine how much performance funding they receive, and gave the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner (RIOPC) and the Council on Postsecondary Education the responsibility to administer the program.

The metrics fall into three categories:

  • Graduation/Completion
  • Workforce Development
  • Mission Specific

Two-Year Institution: Community College of Rhode Island

  • Graduation/Completion
    • Two-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time freshman cohort (performance target 14% by 2020-21)
    • Three-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time freshman cohort (performance target 29% by 2020-21)
    • Percentage of first-time, part-time cohort earning 12+ credits in the first year (performance target 55% by 2020-21)
  • Workforce Development
    • Total certificates and degrees awarded (all fields) (performance target 2,809 degrees and certificates by 2020-21)
    • Percentage of certificates awarded in high-demand, high-wage fields
    • Percentage of degrees awarded in high-demand, high-wage fields
  • Mission Specific
    • Percentage of transfer-out students earning certificate or associate degree before transfer
    • Percentage of cohort completing gateway college-level math with C or better in first year
    • Percentage of cohort completing gateway college-level English with C or better in first year

Two-Year Institutions

Enrollment of Students of Color None
Success of Students of Color None
Enrollment of Students from Low-Income Backgrounds None
Success of Students from Low-Income Backgrounds None
Measure Related to Campus Climate None

Four-Year Institution: Rhode Island College (RIC)

  • Graduation/Completion
    • Four-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time freshman cohort (performance target 26% by 2020-21)
    • Six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time freshman cohort (performance target 52% by 2020-21)
  • Workforce Development
    • Degrees and certificates awarded in high-demand, high-wage fields (performance target 1,350 degrees and certificates by 2020-21)
  • Mission Specific
    • Percentage of full-time transfer students entering with 61-90 credits who complete within two years
    • Percentage of full-time transfer students entering with 61-90 credits who complete within four years
    • Percentage of full-time faculty who are members of minority groups
    • Percentage of full-time staff who are members of minority groups
    • Percentage of first-time, full-time freshmen who accumulate 30 credits within their first year
    • Percentage of first-time, full-time, first-generation freshmen who accumulate 30 credits within their first year

Four-Year: Rhode Island College

Enrollment of Students of Color None
Success of Students of Color None
Enrollment of Students From Low-Income Backgrounds None*
Success of Students From Low-Income Backgrounds None
Measure Related to Campus Climate Mandatory

*The state has a metric that measures first-generation student enrollment at Rhode Island College, but it is not considered a measure of income.

Four-Year Institution: University of Rhode Island (URI)

  • Graduation/ Completion
    • Total degree and certificate completions
    • Four-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time freshman cohort (performance target 54.5% by 2020-21)
    • Six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time freshman cohort (performance target 68.5% by 2020-21)
    • Undergraduate completions per 100 FTE
    • Four-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time freshmen who identify as members of a historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group
    • Six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time freshmen who identify as members of a historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group
    • Four-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time freshmen who are recipients of federal Pell Grants
    • Six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time freshmen who are recipients of federal Pell Grants
  • Workforce Development
    • Degrees and certificates awarded in high-demand, high-wage fields (performance target 3,075 degrees and certificates by 2020-21)
  • Mission Specific
    • Percentage of first-time, full-time freshman cohort completing 90 credits within three years
    • Number of students enrolled in courses with significant experiential learning component
    • Number of students re-engaged and making progress toward completion (Finish What You Started program)
    • Total sponsored research expenditures
    • Total number of students (graduate and undergraduate) who identify as members of a historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group

This policy has two metrics designed to measure the campus climate at Rhode Island College: the percentage of full-time faculty who are members of minority groups and the percentage of full-time staff who are members of minority groups.

The policy is overseen by the Council on Postsecondary Education. To learn more, visit https://www.riopc.edu/page/performance_funding/.

Four-Year: University of Rhode Island

Enrollment of Students of Color Mandatory
Success of Students of Color Mandatory
Enrollment of Students From Low-Income Backgrounds None
Success of Students From Low-Income Backgrounds Mandatory
Measure Related to Campus Climate None

Outcomes-Based Funding Map Placeholder
Outcomes-Based Funding Map

Return to Map