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Does Everyone Go to College? A Critical Policy Analysis of State Proposed and Enacted Tuition-Free Legislation

Ison, Matthew P.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1388-7208
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1641988358991683

Abstract Details

2022, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Higher Education (Education).
This qualitative dissertation critically analyzes proposed and enacted state-level, tuition-free college legislative documents. Taking a three-article approach to the research, this study adds to the recent literature of tuition-free programs focusing on program design characteristics and the inequitable outcomes for students. The first article draws on theoretical perspectives of neoliberalism to better understand the ideological spaces from which policymakers craft tuition-free legislation. Paying close attention to the community college sector, the article finds a dual discourse surrounding the utility of free college that binds a tentative coalition of conservative and progressive factions. The second article examines the data and research cited as evidence in tuition-free community college legislation. Drawing on the work of several policy theorists who conceptualize the political use of evidence in policymaking, findings suggest that conservative and progressive policymakers deploy evidence that fits within their broader ideological preferences. Finally, the third article draws on critical policy analysis to examine salient program characteristics and consider how these design decisions might benefit specific student populations or stakeholders at the expense of others.
Nguyen David (Committee Chair)
Mather Peter (Committee Member)
Hess Michael (Committee Member)
Harrison Laura (Committee Member)
144 p.
Education Finance; Education Policy; Higher Education; Higher Education Administration
free-college; promise; programs; critical policy analysis; neoliberalism; , critical discourse analysis; community college

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ison, M. P. (2022). Does Everyone Go to College? A Critical Policy Analysis of State Proposed and Enacted Tuition-Free Legislation [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1641988358991683

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ison, Matthew. Does Everyone Go to College? A Critical Policy Analysis of State Proposed and Enacted Tuition-Free Legislation. 2022. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1641988358991683.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ison, Matthew. "Does Everyone Go to College? A Critical Policy Analysis of State Proposed and Enacted Tuition-Free Legislation." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1641988358991683

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1641988358991683
366
© 2022, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.