Maekayla Caitlynn Dimatulac
Research Mentor(s): Jeremy Wright-Kim
Mentor Department: Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE)
Authors:
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 85
Abstract
This project investigates the politics and policy mechanisms behind capital funding in U.S. community colleges, focusing on the ballot measures that colleges use to secure infrastructure funding. In many states, these institutions must request funding through local property tax increases, which are subject to voter approval. While prior research on K-12 education has identified key factors influencing the success of these measures, such as the nature of the request, voter demographics (e.g., race, wealth), and institutional characteristics, there is limited understanding of how these dynamics apply in higher education. The goal of this project is to fill this gap by documenting capital funding ballot measures nationwide and examining the relationships between voter characteristics, ballot content, and institutional factors to predict the likelihood of passage. The first phase of this multi-year project involves compiling data on capital funding ballot measures from publicly available sources, which will provide the foundation for future research into the effects of ballot passage on student outcomes. As a student research assistant, I work with Dr. Jeremy Wright-Kim and two fellow student research assistants at the University of Michigan School of Education. My tasks include identifying and collecting data on available capital funding measures, and compiling this data into a preliminary dataset. This opportunity has allowed me to gain valuable skills in data collection, writing, quantitative research methods, and collaborating as part of a research team.
