LOBBYING TACTICS EMPLOYED IN HIGHER EDUCATION AT THE STATE LEVEL: A TWO-STATE STUDY

Abstract

This study sought a better understanding of lobbying tactics used in higher education at the state level. Given the economic recession the United States experienced in recent years, it is now more important than ever for public higher education to maintain its current funding levels and effectively communicate needed policy changes. To advance all public institutions, there must be communication with legislative officials and state-level higher education governing board members. The primary research question for this study was: What strategies and tactics are used in higher education lobbying at the state level, and how do these strategies influence the decisions made by legislative decision makers? Through semi-structured interviews in North Carolina and South Carolina, the researcher coded and analyzed information using the framework for public policy development established by the work of Gabel and Scott. The researcher developed a case study for each state, extracted common themes, compared them through a cross-case analysis, and then used triangulation to help validate the results, mostly using newspapers and periodicals to back up what was discovered during the interviews. The analysis revealed the common strategies and tactics that guide lobbying activities in North Carolina and South Carolina. The researcher also conducted interviews with campus-based lobbyists at public institutions, elected officials, and higher education governing board members in North Carolina and South Carolina. This study identifies the most important state priorities in public higher education. This study went beyond previous studies as it examined two states with differing higher education governing structures. Further, this study involved interviews with elected officials, campus-based lobbyists, and higher education governing board members. The strategies and tactics identified will help higher education institutions advocate for funding and policy changes, and increase the body of knowledge of public higher education lobbying at the state level.