Degrees of Change
A podcast from California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy that explores how smart higher education and workforce policies can help Californians learn, contribute, and thrive. Through candid conversations with thought leaders, policymakers, and practitioners, this podcast brings bold ideas and practical solutions to address some of the state’s most pressing challenges.
Degrees of Change
Understanding California's Higher Education Funding System: A Conversation with Dr. Jennifer Delaney
Dr. Jennifer Delaney joins the final episode of the Master Plan Series on Degrees of Change to unpack how California finances its higher education system and what that means for students, institutions, and the state’s future. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Delaney explores California’s mix of institutional appropriations and student aid, the effects of funding volatility and misaligned budget cycles, and the ways in which long-standing policies such as Proposition 98 shape resource distribution across the University of California, California State University, and the community colleges. She also reflects on how today’s diverse student population no longer aligns with the assumptions baked into the 1960 Master Plan.
Key Topics
- Why the current system reinforces stratification among institutions and students
- How Proposition 98 protects community colleges while leaving CSU and UC more exposed to cuts
- What equity-based funding models could mean for California’s future
Our Guest, Dr. Jennifer Delaney
Dr. Delaney is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Education, and a national expert on higher education finance. Her research examines how states fund their public universities, focusing on funding volatility, policy effectiveness, and the fiscal relationships between governments and institutions. Dr. Delaney also served on the Illinois Board of Higher Education, bringing both scholarly expertise and governance experience to understanding how funding decisions shape educational opportunity.
Stay Connected
Be on the lookout for our new podcast series commemorating our 15 year anniversary, Crystal Clear, which launches early 2026, and where we will explore a shared vision for the future of California higher ed.
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