1
2018-19 Wilder School Public Policy Poll
Higher Education & Workforce
PRESENTATION TOSTATE COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR
VIRGINIAOCTOBER 30, 2018
Office of Public Policy Outreach (OPPO)
• OPPO is part of the Center for Public Policy in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU.
• Conducts Wilder School Public Policy Poll, including education questions, twice a year.
• Continues legacy of the Commonwealth Education Poll and Dr. William C. Bosher.
• Website: www.oppo.vcu.edu
SUMMER 2018 PUBLIC POLICY POLL
• Representative random sample of adult Virginians (N-802)
• Margin of error is +/- 3.49%
Demographics
• Male/Female
• White/Minority
• Age
• Household Income
• Party ID
• Parent of K-12
• Parent of VA college student
Regions
• Northern
• Northwest
• West
2018 Wilder School Public Policy Poll
WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT
• In Colleges and Universities
• In Public High Schools
Cost of CollegeDo you agree/disagree that . . . Are worth the cost?
6
16
28
52
33
38
28
24
16
10
24
16
8
0 20 40 60 80 100
. . . Four-year privatecolleges or universities
. . . Four-year public collegesor universities
. . . Two-year communitycolleges
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree
Strongly Disagree DK/Refused
Perceptions - Performance in Readying StudentsOverall, do you think [the public high schools/the colleges
and universities] in Virginia are doing a good job or a bad job in the following areas? (Percent saying Good Job)
7
Public High Schools
Colleges/Universities
Producing graduates in scientific fields 57 75
Preparing students for the workforce needs of the future 49 61
Developing students’ writing and communication skills 47 63
Providing the skills useful in obtaining a job 45 66
Preparing students to be engaged citizens 45 61
Perceptions of Student ReadinessThinking about students and their future, please tell me how much you agree
or disagree with each of the following statements.
8
2017-18 Wilder School Public Policy Poll -Topline Question 11a-11e
SCHOOL SAFETY
• Perception of Safety on Va. Campuses• Trend• By Age• By Region• By Education Level
• K-12 - Approach to improving safety
Are Virginia Campuses Safe?
76% Say public schools in their community are
Very Safe or Safe
73% Say college and
university campuses in Virginia are
Very Safe or Safe
Are College/University Campuses in Virginia. . .?
11
Based on what you know, how safe are college and university campuses in Virginia?
7066 67
7469
73
2532 30
24 2722
4 2 3 25 6
0
20
40
60
80
100
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Very Safe/Safe Not Very/Not at All Safe Don’t Know/Refused
Campus Safety Perceptions by Age
12
Based on what you know, how safe are college and university campuses in Virginia?
11
12
34
29
20
53
56
39
58
53
24
16
15
9
16
5
9
3
3
6
7
7
9
2
6
0 20 40 60 80 100
65 and over
45-64
35-44
18-34
All
Very Safe Safe Not Very Safe Not at All Safe Don’t Know/Refused
Campus Safety Perceptions by Region
13
Based on what you know, how safe are college and university campuses in Virginia?
11
19
21
20
27
20
47
40
52
57
60
53
25
26
19
14
5
16
12
6
3
2
4
6
5
8
5
7
5
6
0 20 40 60 80 100
Tidewater
Northwest
West
South Central
Northern VA
All
Very Safe Safe Not Very Safe Not at All Safe Don’t Know/Refused
Campus Safety Perceptions by Education Level
14
Based on what you know, how safe are college and university campuses in Virginia?
14
24
22
20
54
42
58
53
17
21
12
16
9
6
2
6
6
6
6
6
0 20 40 60 80 100
H.S. or less
Some college
College Degree
All
Very Safe Safe Not Very Safe Not at All Safe Don’t Know/Refused
Preferred Approach to School Safety?Which do you most agree with, even if neither is exactly right:
We should address school safety issues with additional security measures OR We should address school safety issues through the
mental health system.
15
2018 2016 2014
Additional security measures 41 56 54
Mental health system 36 27 27
Both [Volunteered] 20 11 10
Don’t know/Refused 4 7 9
Mental health as core mission for schools?Public schools should see providing mental health services for
students as a core part of their mission
16
41
40
62
49
24
41
27
32
20
11
6
10
14
6
5
8
0 20 40 60 80 100
Over $100,000
50k to under $100,000
Under $50,000
All adults
Strongly agree Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree Strongly Disagree
17
WINTER POLL
Conducted Dec. 8-26, 2017
Representative random sample of 788 adult Virginians
Margin of error is +/- 3.49%
Breakdowns available by:
• Sex, White/Minority, Age, Household Income, Party Identification
• Parent of public school student/VA college student
• Regions (Northern, Northwest, West, South Central, Tidewater)
2017-18 Wilder School Public Policy Poll
18
OVERVIEW
• Funding Higher Ed
• Performance - Higher Education
• Workforce Development
Support for education funds vs. other programs
49
53
59
65
66
67
70
47
43
36
31
32
32
27
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Universities and higher education
Transportation
Programs for aid to low-Income families
Public Safety**
Public Schools
Programs for workforce training*
Mental Health Services
Willing Not Willing Don't Know
19
Percent willing to pay more taxes to keep funding the same for . . .
*New in 2016-17; **New in 2017-18 ; in prior years “Prisons” also included – ranged from 21%-27% Willing
2017-18 Wilder School Public Policy Poll - Topline Question 5a – 5f
Willing to pay higher taxes to . . .?Increase funding for public higher education institutions
22
40
65
36
61
43
75
49
31
59
33
51
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Republican
Independent
Democrat
White
Minority
All Adults
Willing Not Willing Don't Know
20
2017-18 Wilder School Public Policy Poll-Topline Question 9
Support for increased funding Higher education vs. K-12
43
52
51
41
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Universities and higher education
Public Schools
Willing Not Willing Don't Know
21
Percent willing to pay more taxes to increase funding for . . .
*New in 2016-17; **New in 2017-18 ; in prior years “Prisons” also included – ranged from 21%-27% Willing
2017-18 Wilder School Public Policy Poll - Topline Question 5a – 5f
Willing to pay higher taxes to increase funding for public higher education institutions?
22
2017-18 Wilder School Public Policy Poll-Topline Question 10a
43
51
5
Percent saying each
Willing Not willing Don’t Know
Willingness falls if no strings attached
23
2017-18 Wilder School Public Policy Poll-Topline Question 10a
51
5
10
3343
[asked of 43% willing] If funding had no specification for how it should be spent, still willing to pay higher taxes?
Not willing Don't know Willing (still) Now not willing
Willingness increases to ~60% if funding dedicated to in-demand graduates
24
2017-18 Wilder School Public Policy Poll-Topline Question 10b
43
5
34
17
51
[asked of 51% not willing] If funding could only be used for graduates in fields demanded by employers, now willing to pay
higher taxes?
Willing Don't know Not Willing (still) Now willing
Willingness increases to ~64% if funding dedicated to reducing in-state tuition
25
2017-18 Wilder School Public Policy Poll-Topline Question 10c
43
5
30
21
51
[asked of 51% not willing] If funding could only be used for reducing tuition for in-state students, now willing to pay higher
taxes?
Willing Don't know Not Willing (still) Now willing
26
PERFORMANCE
Perceived efficiency in Higher Ed vs. other programs
2
2
3
3
1
4
5
17
26
30
31
38
38
46
43
38
34
38
31
28
25
20
18
14
18
16
12
11
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Mental Health Services
Programs for aid to low-Income families
Workforce training and develoment
Public Schools
Transportation
Universities and higher education
Public Safety**
Very Efficient Efficient Not too efficient Not at all efficient Don't Know
27
Percent saying use of taxpayer funds is . . .
2017-18 Wilder School Public Policy Poll - Topline Question 8a – 8f
Perceptions of Student ReadinessThinking about students and their future, please tell me how much you agree
or disagree with each of the following statements.
28
2017-18 Wilder School Public Policy Poll -Topline Question 11a-11e
WILDER SCHOOL PUBLIC POLICY POLL
• What questions do you have?
• What questions should we consider asking about in next year’s poll?
29
CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: wilder.vcu.edu/center-for-public-policy
• Twitter: @CPPatVCU
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/CPPatVCU