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4.01 Sharing the Load or Carrying the Costs? Exploring the Interaction and Impact of State and Federal Policies in Higher Education Finance

3:15 - 4:45pm Thursday, 19th March, 2026

Vevey 1

Track Post-secondary student access (e.g., admissions, college choice) & financial aid

Presentation type Spotlight Policy Dialogue

Joshua Goodman

During this session, panelists will discuss changing contexts at the local, state and national level to improve the accessibility and affordability of post-secondary education in the United States. In addition to spotlighting some promising policies, the conversation will focus on the interplay of investments and approaches across the funding ecosystem. Together, panelists will address: 

 1. The rise of policies intended to increase access and affordability in higher education and how the landscape is evolving amidst actions being taken at the federal level

 2. The relationship between state investments, return on investment conversations and differences across the public and private sector

 3. Emerging research on promising policies or innovations and critical unanswered questions that remain

Session Chair:

Dr. Joshua Goodman, Associate Professor of Education and Economics, Boston University 

Sessions Participants:

- Michael Dannenberg, Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

- Jessica Taketa, Higher Education Manager, Arnold Ventures

- Eyob Villa-Moges, Senior Policy Associate, Advance Illinois

- Jerry Whitmore, Assistant Professor, Higher Education, Boston University