Analysis of institutional capital investment in public higher education

Reeder, Sean Dale

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124362 Copy

Description

Title

Analysis of institutional capital investment in public higher education

Author(s)

Reeder, Sean Dale

Issue Date

2024-04-22

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Delaney, Jennifer

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Delaney, Jennifer

Committee Member(s)

• Baber, Lorenzo
• Hood, Denise
• Hinze-Pifer, Rebecca
• Alexander, Kern

Department of Study

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Discipline

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• capital funding
• public universities
• debt
• endowment
• tuition and fees
• enrollment
• appropriations

Abstract

This dissertation explores the capital funding of public universities and the institutional factors related to capital investment across four-year public institutions of higher education in the United States. The capital assets of a public university represent a significant investment and little research has explored this area. Focusing on institutional level factors, I seek to provide new insight into the institutional level predictors of capital investment in public universities. I explore if capital appropriations, tuition and fees, endowment level, long term debt, and FTE enrollment are significant predictors of total capital investment for public institutions of higher education. I investigate if these institutional predictors vary by capital asset type of total capital assets, building assets, infrastructure, land improvements, and construction in progress. Lastly, I analyze if these predictors vary based on institution category subsets of four-year public institutions based on the Carnegie categories of (i) very high research institution, (ii) high research institution, (iii) doctoral research institution, (iv) land grant institutions, and (v) Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCU). I find that capital appropriations, tuition and fees, endowment level, long term debt, and FTE enrollment are significant predictors of total capital investment for public institutions of higher education. These institutional predictors vary by capital asset type of total capital assets, buildings, infrastructure, land improvements, and construction in progress. These predictors have a high degree of variability across the institution subsets of (i) very high research, (ii) high research, (iii) doctoral research, (iv) land grant, and (v) HBCU institutions.

Graduation Semester

2024-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2024 Sean Reeder

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