Gates Foundation Pushes More Data Tracking in Higher Ed, Linking Outcomes to Funding - David Nagel, Campus Technology

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is once again calling for change in higher education. Among other things, the politically influential Gates Foundation is now pushing for reforms that are reminiscent in some ways of the K-12 reforms the organization has forwarded in recent years, including all-encompassing tracking of student outcome data and connecting such data to institutional funding. According to the foundation's latest report on its priorities for post-secondary education, one of its major priorities in the coming years will be to "[s]upport the development of a comprehensive national data infrastructure that enables the secure and consistent collection and reporting of key performance metrics for all students in all institutions. These data are essential for supporting the change needed to close persistent attainment gaps and produce an educated and diverse workforce with career-relevant credentials for the 21st century." https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/09/22/gates-foundation-pushes-more-data-tracking-in-higher-ed-linking-outcomes-to-funding.aspx