CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A survey of recent Promise scholarship graduates found that nearly 80 percent have remained in West Virginia after earning their bachelor's degrees, lawmakers were told Tuesday.
The survey by West Virginia University's Bureau of Business and Economic Research found that in 2008, 59 percent of the 3,692 Promise scholars who graduated between 2005 to 2007 were employed in West Virginia -- compared to 68 percent of all in-state students who graduated during that period.
Another 20 percent of Promise graduates were enrolled in graduate school in West Virginia, the survey found.
Delegate John Doyle, D-Jefferson, said Tuesday he believes the survey underreports the numbers of Promise graduates living in West Virginia. He said it leaves out the large numbers of graduates who live in the Eastern Panhandle but work in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
"They live here, but they work in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia," he said. "I'm thinking, perhaps, if you factor that in, Promise scholars don't have a smaller percentage than regular graduates staying in West Virginia."
Retention of Promise scholars has been a topic of debate since the West Virginia Lottery-funded scholarship program was launched in 2002.
In 2008, Gov. Joe Manchin proposed requiring Promise graduates who move out-of-state to repay a portion of their scholarships, but the Legislature quickly rejected the so-called "claw back" proposal.
Also Tuesday at the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability's meeting:
State Higher Education Chancellor Brian Noland updated legislators on progress on a new funding formula for state colleges and universities.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A survey of recent Promise scholarship graduates found that nearly 80 percent have remained in West Virginia after earning their bachelor's degrees, lawmakers were told Tuesday.
The survey by West Virginia University's Bureau of Business and Economic Research found that in 2008, 59 percent of the 3,692 Promise scholars who graduated between 2005 to 2007 were employed in West Virginia -- compared to 68 percent of all in-state students who graduated during that period.
Another 20 percent of Promise graduates were enrolled in graduate school in West Virginia, the survey found.
Delegate John Doyle, D-Jefferson, said Tuesday he believes the survey underreports the numbers of Promise graduates living in West Virginia. He said it leaves out the large numbers of graduates who live in the Eastern Panhandle but work in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
"They live here, but they work in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia," he said. "I'm thinking, perhaps, if you factor that in, Promise scholars don't have a smaller percentage than regular graduates staying in West Virginia."
Retention of Promise scholars has been a topic of debate since the West Virginia Lottery-funded scholarship program was launched in 2002.
In 2008, Gov. Joe Manchin proposed requiring Promise graduates who move out-of-state to repay a portion of their scholarships, but the Legislature quickly rejected the so-called "claw back" proposal.
Also Tuesday at the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability's meeting:
State Higher Education Chancellor Brian Noland updated legislators on progress on a new funding formula for state colleges and universities.
The new funding formula would be based on courses, not enrollment, he said: "It recognizes that some courses are more expensive to offer than others."
Besides providing higher funding per course in fields such as engineering and health sciences, the formula provides higher funding for upper-level courses than for freshmen courses.
"It puts the incentive on institutions for retention of students and to attract transfers," he said.
Noland hopes to have the new funding formula in place for the 2010-11 budget year.
A status report on funding for the "Bucks for Brains" Research Trust Fund shows that both Marshall and West Virginia universities have struggled in the first year of the program to raise contributions necessary to draw down the state's allotment of $50 million in matching funds for high-tech research efforts.
WVU has raised about $3.3 million, or close to 10 percent of the $35 million available in state matching funds.
Marshall to date has raised about $465,000, or about 3 percent of the $15 million available in matching funds.
"They're the ones who told us they could get theirs first," noted Senate Education Chairman Robert Plymale, D-Wayne.
Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.
Post a comment