Here's a man-bites-dog story: an expert in higher education says that increasing the graduation rates of a state's population does not require spending more money.

The Northwest Arkansas Times reports on a legislative task force that is looking at higher education in Arkansas. Currently, 19% of state residents aged 25 or older have a college degree, placing Arkansas 49th among the states. Some legislators would like to change increase that percentage. (That's understandable, though not everyone needs to have a college degree to have a successful and even financially rewarding career path.)

But what's interesting about this article is a comment from Dennis Jones, who testified before the task force. Jones is president of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.

Here is, well, the money quote:

“So the question for the state is, ‘What are the priorities that institutional self-interest doesn’t cover ? What are the priorities that need to be filled ?’” Jones said.

“The real issue is for the money you’re getting, you ought to have higher expectations for outcomes,” Jones said. “The money you need to do this is already in the budget. It’s not that there has to be new money to get better outcomes.”

Well said. One thing that legislators might do is consider a proposal issued last year by the Arizona-based Goldwater Institute.