Advisory committee weighs HEIF allocation changes and expanded small‑institution supplement

Members of the Higher Education Coordinating Board formula advisory committee discussed possible changes to how the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF) is allocated, focusing on inflation assumptions, research‑expenditure growth and proposals to expand a small‑institution supplement.

At a meeting that included a staff briefing, Emily Geirdorf, leader of the committee’s Charges 1–3 work group, said the group is testing multiple funding scenarios and different inflation assumptions, including replacing an initial 9.5% estimate with a more conservative HEPI three‑year rolling average. “We met last week to talk over the funding high level funding recommendations,” Geirdorf said, summarizing the group’s review of inflation, research spending assumptions and the small‑institution supplement proposal.

The changes under consideration matter because HEIF is a major funding source for deferred maintenance and capital needs at institutions that…