Quality Assurance Funding
Tennessee was the first state to utilize quality metrics in state funding; for over 40 years, Quality Assurance Funding (QAF), previously known as Performance Funding, has provided incentives for all public colleges and universities to measure student learning and institutional effectiveness as part of the continuous improvement process. Institutions may earn an additional 5.45 percent over operating budgets based on performance on metrics particular to their sector and aligned to the Tennessee Higher Education Master Plan. Quality Assurance Funding standards are evaluated every five years to ensure alignment with the public agenda and state high education priorities. The QAF Advisory Committee is comprised of governing board and institutional leadership collaborating with THEC staff to revise the standards that are then approved by the Commission.
- Performance Funding 1978 – 1982 Standards (pilot cycles)
- Cycle 1: Performance Funding 1982 – 1987 Standards
- Cycle 2: Performance Funding 1987 – 1992 Standards
- Cycle 3: Performance Funding 1992 – 1997 Standards
- Cycle 4: Performance Funding 1997 – 2000 Standards
- Cycle 5: Performance Funding 2000 – 2005 Standards
- Cycle 6: Performance Funding 2005 – 2010 Standards
- Cycle 7: Performance Funding 2010 - 2015 Standards
- Cycle 8: Quality Assurance Funding 2015-20 Standards
National Resources
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation
- Carnegie Classification
- State Higher Education Executive Officers
- Educational Testing Service
- National Survey of Student Engagement
- Alumni Attitude Survey
- Center for Community College Student Engagement
- Performance Incentives and Public College Accountability in the United States: A Quarter Century Policy Audit (2010)
- Higher Education Stakeholders' Perception of Tennessee's Current Performance Funding Policy (2005)
- Changing Perceptions and Outcomes: The Tennessee Performance Funding Experience (2004)
- Designing State Incentive Programs that Work in Higher Education (1989)
- Annotated Bibliography on Performance Funding