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President Obama was looking for fresh, innovative ideas recently when he met with college leaders. Is it really possible for Washington to do anything at all amidst huge budget deficits, to help ease the burden of students and make colleges more productive and less expensive?

Anyone who is concerned about our country’s competitiveness in this field focuses on these related challenges. Opinion is varied on how much our President can do to solve this crisis. Though many of the proposed models have not come into effect or are ineffective, our administration can be certainly proud of the K-12 reform through the $4.3 billion “Race to the Top” fund.

Many states were motivated to compete through reforms such as developing common standards and expanding charter schools by using just a small amount of the stimulus dollars. Criticism about Washington stepping on the toes of states was considerably diluted by this structure.

Is it possible to create something similar to push reforms in higher education? 2009 was when stimulus dollars were available for the administration to spend in smart ways. Now, the situation is different and new spending is completely out of question.

In spite of the tough situation, college students last year were offered grants to the tune of $50 billion dollars and loans to the tune of $100 were offered apart from millions spent on research and aid.

Those who attended the meeting said that there are clear indications of better fund leveraging to motivate reforms at institutional and state level. Reforms may include funding based on performance.

This means students who do not take extra courses and still stay firm on their academic track will be given incentives. Introductory classes will be redesigned to ensure that students do not get lost even before they start. 

According to University System of Maryland chancellor William “Brit” Kirwan, suggestions were made to develop a program on the lines of the “Race to the Top” program which will be incentive based and which will motivate interested states to compete provided they are willing to make policy changes.

Many other ideas were brought forth that include ensuring allocation of financial aid benefits students who actually need it, encouraging experimental programs in certain states already in place such as giving government dollars to students who meet certain benchmarks towards graduation and asking states not to reduce higher education funding.

Kirwan said that the administration is certainly striving to use available resources to get more results. He said that at the meeting, they were trying to work out what best can be done in terms of innovation and how best to translate them into federal policies.

Obama along with Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education wanted to hear what they all had to say about how best Washington can push reforms faster. Our President is trying hard to bring focus to our country’s lost global lead position in the field of higher education. He is certainly striving hard to achieve his 2020 goal.

Recently there has been a spate of attention on college costs which clearly reflects the administration’s interest.