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Thomas Lee Harnisch

Adjunct Professor of Education, Georgetown University
Chapter Member: Maryland-Washington, D.C. SSN
Areas of Expertise:

Connect with Thomas

(202) 478-4660

About Thomas

Harnisch's research focuses on state and federal higher education policy; including issues related to finance; student success; and quality. Overarching themes in Harnisch's writings include the role of state and federal funding in college affordability; the regulatory triad; the role of institutional leadership; and advocacy strategies for advancing public higher education as a state priority. Harnisch serves on the IPEDS Technical Review Panel; the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative (NPEC); the Task Force on the SHEEO SHEF report; and other groups related to higher education policy.

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | In the News | Publications

Contributions

For the Next Stimulus Package, Direct Aid to States for Public Higher Education

Commentary,

In the News

Quoted by Daniel C. Vock in "A Look at How Colleges Could Benefit From $3B in Coronavirus Aid for States," Education Dive, July 1, 2020.
Quoted by Jason Gonzales in "FAFSA Requirement Hinders Colorado Colleges’ Ability to Distribute Coronavirus Relief Funds to Students," Chalkbeat, June 26, 2020.
Quoted by Sophie Quinton in "COVID-19 Could Be End of Line for Some Regional Colleges," PEW, June 4, 2020.
Quoted by Daniel C. Vock in "State Lawmakers Wrestle With Scope and Timing of Higher Ed Budget Cuts ," Education Dive, May 28, 2020.
Quoted by Rick Ruggles in "Flag Football, Discounts: Colleges Seek Ways to Boost Enrollment Amid Coronavirus Uncertainty," Omaha World Herald, May 27, 2020.
Quoted by Dan Bauman in "Public Regional Colleges Were Already Struggling. COVID-19 May Push Some to the Brink. ," The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 11, 2020.

Publications

"The Promises and Pitfalls of State Free Community College Plans," (with Kati Lebioda), American Association of State Colleges and Universities , May 2016.

Describes some of the challenges and opportunities presented by state free community college plans.

"The “Pay It Forward” College Financing Concept: A Pathway to the Privatization of Public Higher Education ," American Association of State Colleges and Universities, July 2014.

Outlines the problems of state-level financing plans that allow students to go to college for free in exchange for a percent of their salaries for an extended period of time after graduation.

"A Flexible Risk Retention Model for Federal Student Loans," (with Barmak Nassirian), American Association of State Colleges and Universities, 2017.

Provides a framework for a risk-sharing policy for federal student loans.

"Does Accreditation Protect Students Effectively?" (with Barmak Nassirian), in Accreditation on the Edge Challenging Quality Assurance in Higher Education, edited by Susan D. Phillips and Kevin Kinser (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2018), 14.

Discusses the numerous shortcomings of the current approach to accreditation in higher education.

"Exploring the Role of Business-Led Advocacy Coalitions as a Strategy to Elevate Public Higher Education as a State Funding Priority ," The George Washington University, January 31, 2016.

Examines the role of business-led advocacy coalitions, including their effectiveness in advancing higher education as a state policy priority.