Washington, D.C. — As policymakers work to ensure colleges and universities better meet students’ needs, they can draw inspiration from the health care sector’s patient-centered model. Much like a holistic focus on patients’ needs and well-being has helped the U.S. health care system become more responsive and inclusive, a similar centering of students’ well-being and success could greatly benefit the American higher education system.
A new report from the Center for American Progress suggests two key ways colleges and universities can shift to more student-centered practices. First, the authors recommend that institutions dedicate the majority of their tuition revenue to funding direct student instruction and support services. The authors also recommend that colleges publish more detailed information about course completion rates when reporting student outcomes.
“Students benefit most when they attend schools that center their success holistically when making decisions, especially financial ones,” said Stephanie Hall, senior director for Higher Education Policy at CAP and co-author of the report. “By devoting more of their tuition revenue to student instruction and support, colleges and universities can better serve students—and in turn, students are more likely to earn each credit they take.”
“If colleges can learn from patient-centered approaches used in health care and ensure their budgets align with their missions, they’ll be more likely to meet and exceed the measures of success that we, the public, hold them accountable to pursuing,” said Madison Weiss, senior policy analyst for Higher Education Policy at CAP and co-author of the report.
Read the report: “Reorienting Colleges Toward Student-Centered Practices” by Stephanie Hall and Madison Weiss
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Mishka Espey at [email protected].