Resources for Media
Finney earned her bachelor’s degree at Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, her master’s degree at Bowling Green State University and her Ph.D. at the Pennsylvania State University.
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In the News
"Faultlines" Shaping Higher Education Policy and Opportunity in California
Penn GSE (12/17/2020): Cal. higher ed hampered by outdated policies that limit opportunity, Penn GSE report finds
A Generational Challenge: State Postsecondary Education Policies to Support Economic Recovery and Individual Opportunity
Inside Higher Ed (06/26/20): Report: Focus Funding on Colleges Best Able to Help Unemployed
Georgia Case Study 2018
The Hechinger Report (11/09/18): How the Georgia governor’s race could influence college access there
AJC (10/26/18): Report: Georgia not doing enough to help students earn degrees
Tennessee Case Study 2017
NPR (5/28/18): A Degree With Zero Student Debt. Does It Work?
The New York Times (5/14/17): Free Tuition? Tennessee Could Tutor New York
The Tennessean (4/18/17): Tennessee college work sets a national example, report says
Other Media
Penn GSE News (6/25/2020): A Generational Challenge: State Postsecondary Education Policies to Support Economic Recovery and Individual Opportunity
Inside Higher Education (8/13/18): Needed: A Public/Private Compact for Higher Education.
The Journal Times (1/22/18): Parkside working to meet new metrics in outcomes-based funding model
The Times Higher Education (1/8/18): US proposals ‘could shut poorest students out of universities’
Philadelphia Inquirer (12/8/17): Local Colleges Blast GOP Endowment Tax Proposal
The Times Higher Education (11/20/17): US tax proposals show support for higher education ‘may be over’
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (7/17/17): Chancellor of Pa. State System announces retirement
The Philadelphia Inquirer (7/14/17): School report draws criticism, praise
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (7/12/17):Report urges overhaul of troubled State System universities
New York Times (6/22/16): College Unaffordable Even in Higher Income Brackets.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (6/11/17): Financial pressures on Pa.’s state university system could force an historic restructuring
The Chronicle of Higher Education (10/26/16): In Pennsylvania, the Strike Is Over, but the Challenges Remain
(6/23/16) Advice for presidents, success at MSIs, at New York Times forum
[VIDEO] On the Agenda: (6/21/16) The Next President's Education Policy
Currents Magazine (Fall, 2014): Talking Points: State of Attainment (30 days only!)
The Penn GSE Alumni Magazine (Fall, 2014): Can American Higher Education Make the Grade?
U.S. News & World Report (11/19/14): UC System to Hike Tuition After 3-Year Freeze
The EvoLLLution (10/9/14): Culture and Past Success Blocking Efficiency-Minded Changes
Philadelphia Magazine (9/4/14): Which Philadelphia Colleges Will Survive?
SF Gate (8/21/14): California must revise Master Plan for Higher Education
The EvoLLLution (8/8/14): Turning the Focus from Enrollment to Retention
Business Officer Magazine (8/1/14): Funding Outcomes
Inside Higher Ed (8/1/14): The 31 Million NonDegreed
InsideSources (7/27/14): Why State Leadership Matters for Improving Access to Higher Education
The Main Public Broadcasting Network (3/26/14): Maine Lawmaker Proposes to Temporarily Halt UMaine System Cuts
Newsworks New Jersey (4/19/12): Two unbiased views: Still don't like the Rutgers-Rowan merger
Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane (WHYY) (2/16/12): College cuts: Pennsylvania's higher ed on the chopping block
Inside Higher Ed (2/2/12): No Money Down!
California Case Study 2014
Huffington Post: The Blog (5/14/14): Higher Education Is Messy in California
Capital Public Radio (4/29/14): California University Leaders Dismiss Report that University System Failing
Central Valley Business Times (4/29/14): California’s public higher education system faulted
Los Angeles Times blog (4/28/14): Report calls for reform in state's higher education master plan
National Report 2014
Billy Penn (5/02/2017): What pushed Pennsylvania’s public universities to the brink of collapse
Research at Penn (2014): Hard Choices in Higher Education
The Seattle Times (2/27/2014): State leaders blamed for higher-ed woes
The Huffington Post (3/14/2014): Do States Really Care About Equity in Higher Education?
InsideSources (7/27/2014): Why State Leadership Matters for Improving Access to Higher Education
Georgia Brief 2012
WABE Atlanta (NPR) (5/16/2012): Report: State policies put up barriers for low-income and minority college students
Chattanooga Times Free Press (5/12/2012): Georgia's higher education policies cause ethnic and income disparities, report finds
Market Watch (5/10/2012): Georgia higher education policies hurt Blacks, Hispanics, and Poor, Penn study finds
The Chronicle (5/10/12): Minority students' higher education performance lags in Georgia
Texas Brief 2012
Star Telegram (5/28/12): Trowbridge: Texas legislators neglect low-income and minority students
Washington Monthly (4/20/12): Texas: The Wrong Solution
KGNB Radio (4/19/12): Increased tuition rates having negative effect on Texas higher education
San Antonio Express-News (4/18/12): Rising tuitions threaten Texans
The Texas Tribune (4/18/12): New report questions Texas' higher-ed priorities
Houston Business Journal BizBlog: Report findings clash with Texas' and Houston's higher ed. policy
Houston Business Journal (4/18/12): Report: Texas' higher ed. policy puts economy at risk
Houston Chronicle (4/18/12): Study: Texas faces "hard choices" in higher education
Star-Telegram (4/18/21): Study: Texas not making the grade in higher education
Inside Higher Ed (4/18/12): Report finds mismatched priorities in Texas
Reuters (4/18/12): Texas higher education must confront hard choices, Penn study finds
KETK NBC (4/18/12): Texas faces hard choice in higher education
BlogoWogo (4/18/12): Texas higher education plan nearly flunks study
Topix (4/18/12): Texas higher education must confront hard choices, Penn study finds
Maryland Brief 2012
Urbanite (2/22/12): Achievement Gap
Baltimore Sun (2/20/12): Maryland's higher education gains at risk
Baltimore Sun (2/17/12): Report says Md. must do more to help poor, minority students complete college
Inside Higher Ed (2/17/12): Report Praises Maryland Higher Ed but Cites Problems for Underserved
Penn News (2/17/12): Despite Leadership, Maryland Higher Education Is Leaving Citizens Behind, Penn GSE Study Finds
Washington Brief 2012
Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal (3/3/14): Penn study criticizes Washington higher ed plans
The Seattle Times (3/26/12): Report: College enrollment growing too slowly
Free Speech Radio News (2/17/12): In Washington, access to higher education still and obstacle for many
Six Presidents: An Unprecedented Conversation on Higher Education Funding in Washington
The Daily Pennsylvanian (1/23/12): GSE Professors find Washington Higher Ed Pitfalls
Yakima Herald (1/21/12): Will State's Leaders Work to Champion Universities?
The Seattle Times (1/16/12): Governor Had Solid Agenda, But...
The Seattle Times (1/13/12): UPenn Report Confirms State Officials Failed Leadership on Higher Education
The Wenatchee World (1/13/12): Higher Education Can't Keep Up
The News Tribune (1/12/12): Washington's Leaders Flunk the Higher Education Test
Yakima Herald (1/11/12): Higher Ed Answers Not Easy to Find
Puget Sound Business Journal (1/10/12): Study Comes Down Hard on Wash. Politicians for State of Higher Education
The Bellingham Herald (1/10/12): Report: Washington State Higher Education in Crisis
Crosscut (1/10/12): Midday Scan: Legislators Killing Higher Ed
Inside Higher Ed (1/10/12): Report Criticizes Higher Ed Policy Making in Washington State
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News (1/9/12):
The Seattle Times (1/9/12): Report: Washington Falls Short in Higher Education
The Seattle Times (1/9/12): Higher-ed Woes Tied to State 'Leadership Vacuum'
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (1/9/12): Report: Washington Falls Short in Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education (1/9/12): 'Leadership Vacuum' Undermines Higher Education in Washington State, Study Finds
The Bellingham Herald (1/9/12): REPORT: Washington Falling Short in College Education
Illinois Brief 2011
Chicago Tribune (8/27/18): After years of watching top students leave for other states, U. of I. and lawmakers begin to respond
NPR Illinois (5/30/18): Higher Ed Gets A Bipartisan Push
Education Week (4/17/17): Can Requiring a Post-Graduation Plan Motivate Students? Chicago Thinks So.
Chicago Tribune (4/7/17): Governor, start fixing higher ed in Illinois: How to pour more spending into classrooms and labs
Chicago Tribune (2/13/17): How Illinois pols enable failure at Chicago State
NPR (3/28/12): In Illinois, College can be a legislative favor
Penn Current (1/19/12): Public Higher Ed Troubles in Illinois
Chicago Tribune (12/15/11): Improving Higher Education
Naperville Sun (12/10/11): Illinois Governors Have Harmed Higher Education
Online Degrees Direct (12/6/11): Illinois Higher Education Floundering, Government Corruption Part of the Problem
Chicago Tribune (12/5/11): Study: Quality of Illinois Universities Suffers
The Huffington Post (12/5/11): Illinois Higher Education Floundering, Government Corruption Part of the Problem
Newswire (12/5/11): Illinois Higher Education Floundering
One News Page (12/5/11): Illinois Higher Education Floundering
Chicago Sun-Times (12/4/11): Study Gives Low Marks for Higher Ed's Direction in Illinois
Yahoo News (12/4/11): Report: Illinois Higher Education System Less Affordable, Successful
Mywebtimes.com (12/1/11): State Affairs: Higher Education Decline Calls for New Options
First Electric Newspaper (11/23/11): Study: Illinois Is No Longer a Model for Higher Education
Illinois Issues Blog (11/22/11):Study: Illinois Is No Longer a Model for Higher Education
University Professionals of Illinois, Local 4100 (11/16/11): Study Documents "Decline in Illinois Higher Education"
Finney and Perna presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education's Public Policy Pre-Conference Forum, 11/16/11
Inside Higher Ed (11/15/11): Study Documents Decline in Illinois Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education Ticker (11/15/11): Researchers Link Policy Shift in Illinois with Decline in Higher-Education Performance
My Science (11/14/11): Decline of Higher Education Opportunity and Affordability in Illinois
The Performance and State Policies of Higher Education in Illinois: Laura Perna presents at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, 10/13/11
The Chicago Tribune (10/30/11): Student Debt Looms Large for a Generation