Attitudes of Alabama Legislators Toward Higher Education.

Overview & Synopsis

The attitudes of 100 Alabama legislators toward higher education and about major issues facing higher education in the State were investigated. Surveys were returned by 79 house members (75 percent) and 21 senate members (60 percent). Attention was focused on legislators' views of the mission of higher education, how higher education should be defined and funded, the role of athletics, who should control higher education, criteria for admitting students, the role junior colleges should play, and how accountability should be measured. Also considered was the relationship of legislators' attitudes to background data (i.e., legislator's experience, education, race, age, size of home town, geographic location, party affiliation, profession, and liberal or conservative philosophical base). Findings lead to the following conclusions: there is little agreement among legislators as to how higher education should be funded; legislators have a favorable perception of higher education in Alabama; there is no agreement on an effective method to reduce duplication in higher education; legislators feel that higher education is their responsibility; and legislators desire a greater degree of accountability for higher education. (SW)