Impact on Public Policy
Our development of applied research initiatives is designed to provide evidence-based solutions to problems facing higher education leaders and policymakers. Please view the links below for additional information and articles regarding the recent impact of the Institute of Higher Education
IHE has been cited in recent congressional testimony and government reports. Please view the below links for additional information.
- U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Under Secretary, “Strategies for Increasing Diversity and Opportunity in Higher Education” (September 2023)
- United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, “Postsecondary Innovation: Preparing Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s Opportunities” (June 2023)
- Economic Report of the President (March 2023)
IHE in the News
IHE projects and commentary from IHE personnel have been highlighted in the news media in recent years. Please view the below links for relevant examples.
- The Post and Courier (July 2023)
- Diverse Issues (June 2023)
- Business Insider (April 2023)
- Inside Higher Ed (April 2023)
- Education Dive (March 2023)
- Austin American-Statesman (January 2023)
- Tampa Bay Times (September 2022)
- The Chronicle of Higher Education (September 2022)
- Inside Higher Ed (September 2022)
- Miami Herald (August 2022)
- USA Today (August 2022)
- The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (July 2022)
- Times Higher Education (November 2021)
- NBC News (April 2021)
- CNBC (March 2021)
- Forbes (March 2021)
- Global News (February 2021)
- Marketplace (January 2021)
- Kansas Public Radio (December 2020)
- Inside Higher Ed (November 2020)
- Calgary Herald (September 2020)
- Inside Higher Ed (September 2020)
- Newsy (August 2020)
- Inside Higher Ed (July 2020)
- Money (June 2020)
- The Chronicle of Higher Education (June 2020)
- Teen Vogue (May 2020)
Institute of Higher Education awarded more than $1.5 million in 2022
Founded in 1968, the Institute of Higher Education (IHE) at the University of Florida has a long history of conducting cutting-edge research and offering data-driven recommendations for higher education administrators and policymakers seeking to address important postsecondary issues. Led by Justin Ortagus, associate professor of higher education administration and policy, the institute and its researchers have earned more than $1.5 million in new grants over the past several months.
Recent grants awarded to IHE include collaborators from Penn State University, the University of Tennessee, Southern Methodist University, Howard University, Georgia State University, Houston Community College, and West Virginia University. Newly awarded IHE projects receive funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Helios Education Foundation, and Arnold Ventures, focusing on local funding sources for community colleges, online student success, the impact of course sequencing at community colleges, and more.
“The work we’re doing at IHE is critically important for practitioners and policymakers seeking to better understand how to improve the opportunities and outcomes for traditionally underserved college students. Whether the focus is online education, community colleges, or funding allocations, IHE is committed to using rigorous research to examine the equity and effectiveness of higher education programs and policies.”
Ortagus serves as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator for all IHE projects. Frank Fernandez and Benjamin Skinner, both of whom are assistant professors of higher education administration and policy, also serve in leadership roles on key IHE projects.
The building momentum of IHE mirrors the tremendous growth of research at UF, having just surpassed $1 billion in research spending in 2022. As IHE personnel continue to provide impactful research to improve postsecondary student access and success, the long-lasting positive effects of the institute’s research-practice partnerships will be felt for years to come.